Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said a recent Chinese submarine-launched ballistic missile test is destabilising to the Pacific region.
The launch signals a potential shift in the strategic balance of power, as the test demonstrates an expanding nuclear-capable strike range that could reach further into the Pacific than previous capabilities.
Marles said the event was a long-range missile test launched from a submarine [1]. He said that China itself has stated the missile would be nuclear-capable [1]. The deputy prime minister said that the test implies a broader strategy regarding the range China is building for deploying nuclear capabilities [1].
Data from Taiwan indicates the missile traveled significant distances, reaching as far as the waters off Nauru in the Pacific Ocean [2]. This trajectory underscores the ability of the Chinese navy to project nuclear force across vast stretches of the region.
Marles said the development is destabilising to the region [1]. While the Australian government views the range as a threat, the Chinese foreign ministry said that other countries should not read too much into the test [3].
There are conflicting reports regarding the nature of the missile. While Marles cited Chinese statements regarding nuclear capability [1], other reports indicate China has downplayed the test and did not confirm the missile was nuclear-capable [4].
Despite these contradictions, the Australian government maintains that the ability to launch long-range, nuclear-capable missiles from submarines increases the risk of regional volatility. The reach toward Nauru [2] serves as a physical marker of this expanding influence.
“"That is obviously destabilising to the region."”
The deployment of submarine-launched ballistic missiles with extended range allows China to strike targets from undetected positions across the Pacific. By reaching the waters off Nauru, China demonstrates a capability that complicates the defense calculations of Pacific island nations and their allies, potentially triggering a new cycle of military modernization and deterrence strategies in the region.
