Australia has formally raised concerns with China regarding a recent test launch of a nuclear-capable ballistic missile in the Pacific Ocean, according to Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles.
Marles stated that the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy successfully launched a submarine-launched ballistic missile carrying a simulated training warhead into the Pacific on Monday. While acknowledging the incident, Marles declined to reveal the specific location where the missile landed, citing national security. "It's not something that I can talk about publicly," he told the ABC, adding, "I mean it's not particularly close, but we're talking about the Pacific."
The key concern, Marles emphasized, lies in the demonstrated capability and range of the missile, which China has indicated is nuclear-capable. "Fundamentally is deeply destabilising," he remarked in reference to the test.
This development comes shortly after Australia signed a new security agreement with Fiji. Marles dismissed suggestions that the missile test was timed to coincide with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's visit to the Pacific, stating, "I doubt that it's about the prime minister being in the Pacific."
Speaking to Sky News, Marles highlighted that the missile test underscores China's expanding military reach and reinforces the importance of Australia's defense partnerships within the Pacific region. He confirmed that Australia has communicated its concerns to Beijing through diplomatic channels, both in Canberra and Beijing.
Australian authorities are closely monitoring the situation, though details regarding the missile's trajectory and specific destination remain undisclosed by the Defense Minister. The launch occurred at 12:01 p.m. on Monday, according to Chinese state media outlet Xinhua.