Chinese Submarine Conducts Missile Test in Pacific

On Monday, a Chinese submarine launched a nuclear-capable ballistic missile into the Pacific Ocean. This was part of a planned military exercise, as reported by China’s official Xinhua news agency.

The missile, equipped with a dummy warhead, was launched from an unspecified submarine of the Chinese navy at 12:01 p.m. Beijing time. It reportedly hit its target area in the sea accurately.

This announcement followed notifications from Australia and New Zealand about a planned Chinese missile test in the South Pacific. The nations had been informed in advance about the event.

This marks the second incident of its kind since September 2024, when China’s Rocket Force launched an intercontinental ballistic missile into the same waters. According to Xinhua, this routine missile test aligns with China’s annual military training programs.

Chinese officials emphasized that relevant countries were notified beforehand. They asserted that the test complies with international law and practices, stating it is not directed at any particular country or target.

This is a developing story. Further details are expected.