On July 7, 2026, China conducted a rare test launch of an unarmed intercontinental-range ballistic missile (ICBM) from a submarine in the Pacific Ocean. The missile was reportedly fired into the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone, established in 1986 to prohibit nuclear weapons in the region. China had pledged in 1987 to adhere to protocols banning nuclear tests within this zone.

The Trump administration condemned the test, calling it “of great concern.” A State Department statement said, “At a time when the United States is working harder than ever to prevent nuclear proliferation, China is doing the opposite. Beijing’s rapid and opaque nuclear weapons buildup is of great concern to the region and the world.” The US urged China to engage in arms control discussions and establish regular notification arrangements for all intercontinental ballistic missile and space launches, consistent with commitments by other P5 members.

China’s test drew international scrutiny and condemnation despite Beijing’s insistence that the launch was part of routine training and complied with international law, as the missile carried a dummy warhead, according to Chinese state news.

Australia, Japan, and New Zealand also criticized the launch. Auckland noted it was informed only hours before the test. New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters told The Associated Press, “It appears that despite our long-standing concerns about this type of activity, China carried out the test within hours of informing us.”

In Japan, Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said, “China’s military activities, combined with its lack of transparency, have become a grave concern for Japan and the international society.”

Beijing last conducted a missile test in the Pacific two years ago, marking the first such incident since 1980.

Sources