China test-fired a long-range ballistic missile from a nuclear-powered submarine into the Pacific Ocean on Monday, prompting sharp criticism from Washington and regional powers over Beijing’s accelerating nuclear buildup. The launch, described by Chinese state media as a routine military exercise, marked the second such test in four months and underscored the country’s expanding strategic capabilities amid growing international unease.

The missile, equipped with a training warhead, struck a designated area in the Pacific, according to a statement from the People’s Liberation Army Navy. While Beijing claimed the test was part of annual drills and that neighboring countries had been notified, regional governments reacted with alarm. Australia, Japan, and New Zealand condemned the exercise as destabilizing, with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong calling it a provocative act that undermines regional stability .

The United States escalated its rhetoric, with State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott accusing China of pursuing a “rapid and opaque” expansion of its nuclear arsenal at a time when Washington is seeking to curb proliferation. “In a time when the United States is working more than ever to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, China is doing the opposite,” Pigott said in a statement. “Beijing’s rapid and non-transparent nuclear expansion is a major cause for concern for the region and the world” .

The test coincided with a joint military exercise between China and Russia, further amplifying regional anxieties. New Zealand noted that the launch occurred just two hours after Beijing notified Pacific nations of the planned operation, though it remained unclear whether Washington had received advance notice. Chinese officials insisted the missile landed “precisely in the designated sea area,” but did not confirm whether the weapon was nuclear-capable .

Analysts warned the demonstration highlighted China’s growing ability to project power across the Pacific, including the potential to strike the continental United States. The launch follows a similar test in May 2024, when Beijing fired a ballistic missile into waters near French Polynesia—the first such launch over international waters in more than four decades .

Washington has repeatedly urged Beijing to engage in arms control talks and adopt a transparent notification system for intercontinental ballistic missile and space launch tests. China, however, has rejected such proposals, arguing its arsenal remains far smaller than those of the U.S. and Russia. The latest test comes as the U.S. seeks to revive stalled arms control agreements, including the expired New START treaty with Russia, which Washington had sought to expand to include China .

The international response reflects deepening mistrust of China’s military modernization, particularly its submarine-launched ballistic missile program. While Beijing frames such tests as defensive measures, regional capitals view them as part of a broader strategy to assert dominance in the Pacific. The episode is likely to intensify diplomatic pressure on China to demonstrate restraint and engage in meaningful arms control negotiations.

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