China has confirmed the successful launch of a strategic missile into the Pacific Ocean as part of its annual military training program. According to the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), the missile was launched from a strategic nuclear submarine on July 6 and accurately landed in a designated area of the Pacific.
The launch took place at 12:01 PM local time and carried a training simulation warhead rather than a live nuclear payload. Chinese naval spokesperson Wang Xuemeng stated that the missile test was a routine military exercise conducted under the country’s annual training schedule. He also emphasized that relevant countries were informed in advance about the launch.
The missile test attracted international attention after reports emerged that several Pacific nations had received prior notifications from Beijing. Papua New Guinea’s Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko confirmed that he had been personally informed by the Chinese ambassador regarding the upcoming launch. A government source in New Zealand also stated that Chinese authorities had provided advance notice of the planned missile test.
The launch coincided with the start of the annual China-Russia joint naval exercises near Qingdao, one of China’s major military ports. However, officials did not clarify whether the missile launch was directly connected to those drills.
This event follows a similar test conducted by China’s Rocket Force in September 2024, when a missile carrying a dummy warhead was launched into international waters near French Polynesia. Military analysts at the time suggested the missile was likely a Dong Feng-31, an advanced intercontinental ballistic missile capable of carrying a thermonuclear warhead.
Security experts believe China’s military presence in the Pacific region will continue to expand. Recent assessments from New Zealand’s Defence Force indicate that Chinese naval operations and long range missile tests may become a more regular occurrence across the Pacific in the coming years.
China maintains that such exercises are part of its routine defense preparations and are conducted in accordance with international procedures.
