China’s navy test-launched a long-range ballistic missile in the South Pacific, raising concerns from countries in the region. The missile was launched from one of China’s nuclear-powered submarines and carried a dummy warhead.
Regional Response
Australia, Japan, and New Zealand criticized the launch. The New Zealand government noted that the missile was fired into the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone, which was established by the 1986 Treaty of Rarotonga.
China maintained that the launch was part of routine annual training and complied with international law and practice. However, the launch has sparked concerns about China’s growing military presence in the region.
The launch took place on the same day Australia and Fiji signed a new mutual defense treaty, which is meant to counter Chinese influence in the Pacific. Japan’s Defense Ministry expressed concern about China’s increasing military activity and asked Beijing to reconsider its missile testing.
Original reporting: KOAT Albuquerque — read the source article.
