Criticism Grows Over Chinese Missile Launch Near Pacific Island Waters

2026-07-07

Criticism has spread across the Pacific over China's ballistic missile launch on the 6th. The missile landed near Tuvalu's exclusive economic zone (EEZ), renewing attention on China's military presence in the region.

China Launch Ripples Through Region

The U.S. State Department on the evening of the 6th issued a statement from a spokesperson saying that China's rapid and opaque buildup of nuclear weapons is a major concern for the region and the world. It also stressed that it remains unwavering in its defense commitments to allies and partners.

The submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) fired by China's military passed over the EEZs of the Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Kiribati and Tuvalu, before falling near the boundary between the EEZs of Kiribati and Tuvalu. The Chinese military said it carried a training warhead and landed in the designated sea area, but did not disclose the specific location.

The military also said the launch had been notified in advance to the countries concerned and complied with international law and international practice. It said the missile was not aimed at any specific country or target.

Australia, New Zealand Raise Concerns

Australia and Fiji on the 6th elevated their bilateral ties to an alliance and signed a mutual defense treaty that positions militarization by third parties, with China in mind, as a regional threat. China launched the missile shortly afterward.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on the 7th criticized the launch as 'provocative action by China that destabilizes the region.' New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon also said there had been prior notice but no consultation, adding that they were informed only a few hours before the launch and that he was concerned such actions appeared to be gradually becoming normal.

The Philippine Defense Ministry on the 7th condemned the launch as a 'reckless display of military power.' It also said the launch had no peaceful purpose and was a calculated provocation against countries opposing unlawful expansionism, adding that it would work with Pacific countries to call on China to act responsibly.

The South Pacific has a strong aversion to nuclear matters because of its history of nuclear testing. The Rarotonga Treaty, which took effect in 1986, banned nuclear testing and other activities in the South Pacific region and created a nuclear-free zone. China is believed to have launched a missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead from a nuclear-powered submarine into this nuclear-free zone.

Island nations that China has deepened ties with through economic and development assistance have also expressed displeasure. Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele said on the 7th that 'China is a good friend to the Solomon Islands, but a friend would not do this,' adding that the missile test showed the need for region-led efforts to strengthen security cooperation among Pacific island nations.

China has been expanding its influence in the South Pacific, and historically close partners Australia and New Zealand have become increasingly wary. China's military also conducted a test launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) toward the open waters of the South Pacific in 2024, and carried out live-fire drills in the Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand in 2025.

Melissa Conley Tyler, honorary fellow at the University of Melbourne in Australia, said the launch would work against China's efforts to build ties with island nations. 'With this missile launch, China's regional influence has come to be recognized as a real issue for island nations,' she said.

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