Beijing conducts submarine-launched intercontinental ballistic missile test, raising regional tensions amid prior notifications to Pacific nations.
China has test-fired a nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) from a submarine into the South Pacific, according to diplomatic sources and government confirmations. The launch, which occurred in international waters, follows prior notifications to Australia, New Zealand, and Japan about the planned test within a 24-hour window.
This marks China’s second ICBM test in the Pacific since September 2024, when it conducted its first such launch since 1980. Regional governments, including Japan, have expressed grave concerns over Beijing’s escalating military activity, though diplomatic appeals appear to have had little effect.
The test underscores China’s expanding strategic capabilities and comes amid heightened geopolitical tensions in the Indo-Pacific. No immediate market reaction was reported, but the development is likely to influence defense and security-related assets in the region.