Pacific nations respond with defense pacts and diplomatic criticism
Regional allies criticize China's test; Australia-Fiji defense treaty signals coordinated Pacific response.
Event / Conflict
China Pacific Missile Test
China conducted a ballistic missile test from a nuclear-powered submarine in the South Pacific on July 6, 2026, within the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone. Australia, Japan, and New Zealand criticized the test. Australia and Fiji signed a mutual defense treaty on the same day.
4 reported locations
Daily activity
0 articles0 articles
2026-08-16 to 2026-11-13 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 6 Jul, 10:52 UTC
Follow the documented timeline or explore the related reporting.
What happened
Australia, Japan, and New Zealand criticize China's missile test
Australia, Japan, and New Zealand issued formal criticisms of China's ballistic missile test. Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong stated the test was destabilizing to the region. Japan's Defense Ministry expressed concern about China's military activity and called for Beijing to reconsider testing that could pose security risks. New Zealand's Foreign Minister Winston Peters noted that China informed the country only hours before conducting the test.
Pentagon reports China has approximately 600 nuclear warheads in 2024
According to the Pentagon's latest report to Congress on China's military capabilities released in late 2025, China had an estimated stockpile of around 600 nuclear warheads in 2024. The report indicates that the People's Liberation Army remains on track to field more than 1,000 nuclear warheads by 2030.
China test-launches long-range ballistic missile from submarine in South Pacific
China's military conducted a test launch of a long-range ballistic missile from a nuclear-powered submarine in the South Pacific on Monday at 12:01 p.m. local time. The missile carried a dummy warhead. The launch was conducted as part of routine annual training and complied with international law and practice according to China's official statements.
China maintains fleet of six ballistic-missile submarines and 59 attack submarines
According to the Nuclear Threat Initiative, a Washington-based think tank, China operates a fleet of six ballistic-missile submarines and 59 nuclear-powered attack submarines.
Missile test conducted within South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone
The ballistic missile test was fired into the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone, established by the 1986 Treaty of Rarotonga. China ratified the treaty protocols in 1987, pledging not to test nuclear weapons within the zone or threaten to use them against signatories with territory in the region.
China dismisses international criticism of missile test
China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded to the criticism by stating: 'We hope that the relevant countries will avoid overinterpretation.' The Chinese government maintained that the launch was routine and not directed against any country or target.
Australia and Fiji sign mutual defense treaty to counter Chinese influence
Australia and Fiji signed a new mutual defense treaty on the same day as China's missile test. The treaty is intended to counter Chinese influence in the Pacific region.
China's previous Pacific missile test occurred two years ago
China last conducted a ballistic missile test in the Pacific two years ago, firing an intercontinental ballistic missile with a dummy warhead. That test was the first in the Pacific since 1980 and was conducted in international waters.
Read the coverage
2 alternative perspectives
China Conducts Submarine Missile Test in South Pacific
China tested a submarine-launched ballistic missile in the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone.