China conducted a long-range ballistic missile test on Monday, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from nations across the Pacific. The exercise, described by China's Xinhua news agency as a "routine arrangement of the annual training" for the navy, has nevertheless heightened concerns in the region due to the rarity of such tests.
New Zealand's Foreign Minister Winston Peters stated that the test was an "unwelcome and concerning development." He added that his country, along with other Pacific nations, has "no interest in China using the South Pacific as a testing site for missile capability."
Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara criticized China's increasing defense spending and rapid expansion of missile capabilities, including intercontinental ballistic missiles, noting a lack of transparency. Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong characterized the test as "destabilizing" for the region.
While China characterized the launch as routine training, its long-range ballistic missile tests are infrequent. The most recent comparable test occurred two years prior, with the one before that dating back approximately four decades.