China missile test: what do we know and why are countries in the region concerned?

Beijing described the test as ‘routine’, while the US, Australia and countries in the Pacific condemned the exercise China’s decision to conduct a missile test in the Pacific at short-notice has prompted swift condemnation from leaders including the US, Australia and New Zealand, who have accused Beijing of “destabilising” the region. The test was carried out on Monday, with the missile reportedly flying thousands of kilometres across the Pacific in what China described as a “routine” military exercise. China has urged foreign nations to not “over-interpret” the test, but it has set alarm bells ringing among leaders and experts. Countries like the US and Australia, that have traditionally held sway in the region, have become increasingly concerned about China’s push for influence in the Pacific, along with China’s desire to expand its military and nuclear capabilities. Monday’s missile test marked Beijing’s second publicly acknowledged long-range missile launch into the Pacific in less than two years, after an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test in September 2024, which also drew regional criticism. Regional neighbours believe they were given insufficient notice and info