China has defied warnings and fired an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) from a nuclear-powered submarine in the South Pacific.
The missile, carrying a dummy warhead, marked China’s first missile test in the Pacific in two years and came only hours after Australia signed a defence agreement with Fiji, committing to come to the other’s aid in the event of an attack.
Beijing sent out routine notifications to neighbouring countries a few hours before the launch, provoking concern and leading to pleas to abandon the tests.
Japan’s defence and foreign ministries immediately issued a joint statement revealing they “strongly called for a rethink of the ballistic missile test-firing”.
Australia and New Zealand condemned the test, with Penny Wong, Australia’s foreign minister, calling it “destabilising” to the region, and Winston Peters, her New Zealand counterpart, “deeply concerning”.
New Zealand said it had been informed of the planned launch hours beforehand, and noted that the missile was fired into the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone.
China took no notice.
“The missile landed accurately in the designated area,” a report from Xinhua, China’s official news agency, said.
It said the launch took place at 12.01pm Beijing time, describing it as routine military training that “was not directed against any specific country or target”.
Experts said the launch was an example of aggression intended to demonstrate China’s growing nuclear capabilities and send a political message to rivals.