China launches ballistic missile in the Pacific, Japan and Australia protest

China has announced that it has carried out a Test launch of a non-nuclear missile in the Pacific Ocean. Countries in the region had previously reported being warned of an imminent test of an intercontinental ballistic missile.

“A nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine successfully launched a strategic missile equipped with a simulated warhead in international waters in the Pacific Ocean at 12:01 pm on July 6,” a Chinese Navy spokesperson said in a statement published on the WeChat social media platform.

He tests

The launch was arousing strong reactions among the countries of the region. The Japanese government, in a note, explains that it has “strongly asked Beijing to reconsider the test of a ballistic missile so that it does not pose a threat to Japan’s security by passing through our airspace”.
“The Pacific is an ocean of peace and we are deeply concerned by China’s tests of nuclear-capable weapons in the South Pacific,” New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters said in a statement, adding that the launch “is not compatible with regional stability.” According to Australian authorities, the test risks “destabilizing the South Pacific”.

“Australia has made it clear to China that we consider this a destabilizing act for the region“, said the Canberra’s Foreign Minister, Penny Wongto journalists. The missile “landed precisely within the pre-established maritime zone”, the Beijing Navy underlined, without providing further details on the exact location.

Naval exercises

The test coincides with the start of annual joint Russian-Chinese naval exercises off the coast of Qingdaoa major military port and seaside resort in eastern China. “This test launch is part of China’s routine annual military exercises,” Beijing said in its press release, “the countries concerned were informed in advance, in accordance with international law and practice. This launch was not directed against any specific country or target.”