Australia calls for stronger AUKUS defence after Chinese missile test

China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy launched a nuclear‑capable ballistic missile into Pacific waters close to Tuvalu and Nauru, prompting global condemnation and heightened security concerns in Australia.

Australian officials warned that key facilities such as the AUKUS hub at HMAS Stirling in Western Australia are “dangerously exposed” due to inadequate integrated air and missile defence (IAMD). Shadow defence minister James Paterson urged rapid acquisition of ground‑based missile and drone defences ahead of the planned 2026 deployment of U.S. and British nuclear‑powered submarines under the Submarine Rotational Force‑West program. The Albanese government responded that it is delivering the largest defence‑funding increase in Australia’s history, while critics say progress on IAMD remains slow.

The incident has revived calls for direct diplomatic engagement with China, with opposition leaders urging Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to contact President Xi Jinping to discuss the missile test and associated risks.