- China's navy conducted a rare test of a long-range ballistic missile from a nuclear-powered submarine in the Pacific Ocean on Monday, marking its first such launch in the region in two years.
- The missile, carrying a dummy warhead, landed within designated waters, with China's foreign ministry stating it was a 'routine part of annual military training' and not aimed at any specific country, urging other nations not to 'overinterpret' the event.
- Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and Papua New Guinea immediately condemned the test, with New Zealand expressing concern that the missile landed within the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone and Japan complaining about the short 90-minute notification period.
- Australia's foreign minister, Penny Wong, described the test as 'destabilising' for the region, occurring amidst a rapid Chinese military build-up and coinciding with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's visit to Fiji to sign a mutual defence treaty aimed at countering Chinese influence.
- The incident highlights ongoing regional tensions and China's continued modernisation of its military capabilities, including its submarine-launched ballistic missiles which have the range to target significant parts of the continental United States.
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