China conducted a significant military test on Monday, launching a long-range ballistic missile with a dummy warhead in the Pacific Ocean. This marked the first launch in two years.
The missile, fired from a Chinese nuclear-powered submarine, targeted the Pacific Ocean with high precision, according to Xinhua, China’s official news agency. The report stated that the missile landed accurately in its designated area at 12:01 p.m. Beijing time. Importantly, the test was described as not being directed at any specific country or target.
Details regarding the exact landing location of the missile remain unclear. This test coincided with announcements of defense agreements between Australia and Pacific Island nations, including a mutual defense treaty with Fiji and a regional security alliance, aimed at countering China’s influence in the region.
Regional governments received advance warnings of the missile launch. The previous test, conducted in September 2024, involved an intercontinental ballistic missile with a dummy warhead, which was sent across the Pacific Ocean near French Polynesia. This earlier test was notable as it was the first time in over forty years that China publicly announced such testing in the Pacific region, raising concerns among nearby countries.
An accompanying image from September 2024 shows the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force launching an intercontinental ballistic missile with a dummy warhead into the Pacific Ocean. The photograph was provided by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army News and Communication Center.