[ISAFIS News #19] Missile Splashdown Stirs Pacific Tensions

Written by: Gracelycia Angeline Serat Staff of Research and Discussion

On Monday, July 6, 2026, China tested a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) fired from the South China Sea, which flew approximately 7,300 kilometres. The missile, believed to be a JL-2 or JL-3, later landed in the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone (SPNFZ), notably near the Solomon Islands. According to Chinese state media outlet Xinhua, the missile successfully landed in its intended zone. However, despite the accuracy, the test drew increased global tensions amongst Pacific nations.

Image 1. Photo released by China’s state media Xinhua showing the firing of a long-range ballistic missile from a Chinese submarine in the Pacific on July 6, 2026.
Source: Xinhua/Li Xiangchao

Australia and New Zealand in particular swiftly spoke out about China’s SLBM testing. Both governments strongly condemned the test-firing, describing the action as “destabilising”, in addition to accusing China of violating the principles that Pacific Island nations upheld under the Pacific Islands Forum’s Ocean of Peace Initiative. Furthermore, Australian cabinet minister Pat Conroy criticised China’s insufficient notice of the testing, stating that the notice came only hours before the launch was confirmed, which some nations said violated international law. In response, Mao Ning, China’s foreign ministry spokesperson, mentioned that the test launch “is a routine part of China’s annual military training, in accordance with international law and practice, and is not directed against any specific country or target”.  In addition, the Chinese government stated that the test was done safely, urging critics not to read too much into it. 

However, not all reactions were as forceful. While Australia and New Zealand issued strong public condemnations of China’s SLBM test, the response from Pacific Island governments was generally more cautious. The Solomon Islands prime minister, Matthew Wale, also spoke out about China’s SLBM test. As the Solomon Islands lies near where the SLBM landed, Wale stated that despite having good connections with China, its action was not the sort of thing a good friend to the Pacific Islands does, further adding that the missile test was not good for the region, and that the message applied to all nations.

The Pacific Council of Churches general-secretary Reverend James Bhagwan described the situation as a reminder of how quickly the peace of the Pacific Ocean can be turned into a competition of power, further emphasising the Pacific’s stance on firmly opposing nuclear arms in any region of the Pacific. Bhagwan also noted that China was not the only country testing weapons in the region, pointing to the United States, which regularly fires intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) into the Pacific. The Pacific’s nuclear-free stance, established by the 1985 SPNFZ Treaty, keeps the region from becoming an arena of power competition. China’s test reopened concerns surrounding nuclear detonations in the region, pushing Pacific nations to stay firm on their stance against nuclear tests in the Pacific region.

References
Blades, J. (2026, July 7). Stop firing missiles in our ocean region – Pacific reacts to China test. RNZ. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/pacific/684133/stop-firing-missiles-in-our-ocean-region-pacific-reacts-to-china-test

Butler, J., Corlett, E., & McIlroy, T. (2026, July 7). Australian PM says Chinese missile test could have caused ‘considerable damage’ if weaponised. The Guardian; The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jul/07/chinese-government-tells-critics-not-to-overinterpret-missile-test-in-pacific-as-criticism-grows

Maealasia, I. (2026, July 7). Wale Slams China’s Missile Test: ‘This Is Not What a Friend Does’. In-Depth Solomons. https://indepthsolomons.com.sb/wale-slams-chinas-missile-test-this-is-not-what-a-friend-does/

RNZ. (2026, July 6). Missile test in South Pacific “routine” and “consistent with international law,” China insists. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/683451/missile-test-in-south-pacific-routine-and-consistent-with-international-law-china-insists

Rodgers, J., Lin, B., & Li, L. (2026, July 9). China’s SLBM Test Underscores the Importance of a Ballistic Missile Launch Notification Agreement. CSIS. https://www.csis.org/analysis/chinas-slbm-test-underscores-importance-ballistic-missile-launch-notification-agreement