China's Submarine-Launched Nuclear Missile Test Flies Over Philippines and Guam

China conducted a test flight of a nuclear-capable, submarine‑launched ballistic missile (JL‑2) on July 6, 2026, its first such launch since 1988. The missile was fired from a submarine off Guangdong Province and traveled approximately 4,000 miles, passing over the northern tip of the Philippines, south of the U.S. territory of Guam, north of Palau and near Nauru before impacting in the South Pacific.

The test drew condemnation from the United States and regional governments. U.S. officials labeled the launch a provocation that destabilises the Indo‑Pacific, while Taiwan’s National Security Council highlighted the missile’s range of up to 7,456 miles and its ability to carry multiple warheads. New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon reiterated his country’s nuclear‑free stance, expressing concern over increasing militarisation in the region. The United States State Department criticised the secrecy of the test and warned of China’s nuclear buildup.

Analysts noted the missile’s capability to be armed with a single megaton warhead or multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles, underscoring the strategic implications of the test for regional security and arms‑control negotiations.