New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters condemned the Chinese SLBM test near its waters, calling it an “unwelcome and concerning development.”

Regional tensions are running high after a Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) nuclear-powered submarine conducted a test firing of a long-range ballistic missile on Monday. The missile reportedly carried a dummy warhead, but the tests in the South Pacific were meant to show Beijing’s increased submarine capabilities.

The test sparked fierce criticism from the governments of Australia and New Zealand, two US allies in the region, which both warned that such actions threatened peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.

The PLAN confirmed that the missile had been launched from one of its nuclear-powered submarines, but did not identify the specific boat involved, in keeping with China’s existing secrecy practices around its nuclear-equipped submarines.

“This test launch was a routine part of China’s annual military training schedule,” Senior Capt. Wang Xuemeng, a spokesperson for the PLAN, told CNN in a statement. “The operation was in accordance with international law and practice, targeting no specific country or objective.”

China’s Missile Test Violated the Spirit—if Not the Letter—of International Law

China does not regularly report on its missile tests. In this case, however, it did inform other nations of the launch, as the missile landed in the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone, which was established by treaty in 1986.

Beijing has agreed to Protocols 2 and 3 of the Treaty of Rarotonga, which established the nuclear-free zone. That treaty calls on signatories not to use or threaten the use of nuclear weapons within the zone. Protocol 3 also bans any nuclear testing in the zone.

As noted, the test weapon was outfitted with a dummy warhead, meaning it was not truly a “nuclear weapon” as such. Still, New Zealand foreign minister Winston Peters expressed concern over the test.

“Earlier today, China informed us of its plans to launch a long-range ballistic missile into the South Pacific,” Peters told CNN. “New Zealand considers this an unwelcome and concerning development. We, like our neighbors in other Pacific countries, have no interest in China using the South Pacific as a testing site for missile capability.”

Australia’s government voiced its own unease, with Australian foreign minister Richard Marles saying that the government was “very concerned” by the test.

What Does China’s Nuclear Submarine Fleet Look Like?

China is currently believed to possess between six and nine Type 094 Jin-class SSBNs, which form the backbone of Beijing’s sea-based nuclear deterrent. Each is equipped to launch the JL-2 and newer JL-3 submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), which could threaten Guam, but also Hawaii and Alaska.

Still, naval analysts believe the Chinese boats are fairly easy to track.

“Despite being an upgrade from the unreliable Xia-class, the Type 094s are criticized for their detectability due to high noise levels, potentially undermining their strategic deterrence capability,” Maya Carlin wrote for The National Interest in 2024. “China needs ballistic missile submarines to threaten America with nuclear war in a crisis. However, the Jin-Class Type 094 submarine might not be up to the task due to a host of problems.”

To address the shortcomings of the Type 094, China is building its next-generation Type 096 SSBNs, which are intended to significantly improve stealth and survivability.

The Julang (JL) strategic missiles were first unveiled during the military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II on September 3, 2025.

Monday’s test was the second test of a People’s Liberation Army (PLA) intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in the past two years, according to China’s state-run Global Times newspaper. The PLA Rocket Force previously test-fired another ICBM into the Pacific Ocean in September 2024.

The test on Monday highlights the PLA’s increased capabilities.

“Within the nuclear triad, strategic nuclear submarines are internationally recognized as the most secure platform for secondary nuclear counterstrike capability,” Zhang Junshe, a Chinese military affairs expert, told the Global Times.

“Submarines conduct long-term underwater mobile patrols, making them extremely difficult to detect and track, with strong battlefield survivability,” Zhang said. “Even if land-based and air-based nuclear platforms come under suppression, strategic nuclear submarines operating in the deep ocean retain full nuclear counterstrike capabilities.”

Experts believe China could possess at least 1,000 nuclear-armed missiles by 2030, with that number increasing to 1,500 by 2035.

About the Author: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu has contributed to dozens of newspapers, magazines and websites over a 30-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a contributing writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: Editor@nationalinterest.org.

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