China‑Australia dispute over Pacific missile test escalates

China launched a submarine‑borne, nuclear‑capable missile that landed in the Pacific between Tuvalu, Nauru and the Solomon Islands, giving Australia only a few hours’ notice. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong described the test as “destabilising” and raised the issue with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during a meeting in Manila on the sidelines of ASEAN talks.

Wong urged transparency, adherence to international law and the law of the sea, and noted strong concerns voiced by Pacific island nations. She also announced a donation of about 413 million pesos in drone technology to the Philippine Coast Guard and said Australia is considering more regular joint sea‑patrols with the United States and Japan.

China’s foreign ministry countered that the launch was a routine training exercise, accused Australia of “hyping up tensions”, and called on Canberra to abandon “double standards” and respect non‑interference. The diplomatic exchange highlighted broader regional unease about China’s growing military presence and the need for continued engagement among Australia, its Pacific partners and other powers.

The incident is expected to feature in upcoming Pacific Islands Forum discussions and could shape future security cooperation in the South China Sea and broader Indo‑Pacific region.