China tests long-range missile in South Pacific in move Australia condemns as ‘destabilising to region’

Launch comes just hours after Australia and Fiji sign defence agreement as expert says timing not a coincidence China has conducted a long-range missile test in the South Pacific just hours after Australia signed a defence agreement with Fiji, sparking condemnation from Canberra and regional leaders. The Australian foreign minister, Penny Wong, said the missile test was “destabilising” to the region, while her New Zealand counterpart, Winston Peters, described it as “deeply concerning”. A Chinese navy statement said a nuclear submarine launched a “strategic missile carrying a training simulation warhead” on Monday, adding it had “accurately land(ed) in the designated sea area”. “This missile test launch is a routine arrangement of China’s annual military training, and relevant countries were informed in advance,” spokesperson Wang Xuemeng said in the WeChat statement. China’s defence ministry did not confirm whether an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) was used in Monday’s test. The exact location of the test was unknown. The New Zealand government said it was informed of the planned launch hours beforehand, and noted that it was fired into the Sou