China's missile tests builds on Pacific nuclear deterrence
US allies in the Pacific condemned what Beijing has called a "routine" intercontinental ballistic missile test, which comes as China seeks to demonstrate its growing
US allies in the Pacific condemned what Beijing has called a "routine" intercontinental ballistic missile test, which comes as China seeks to demonstrate its growing military capabilities. On Monday, the Chinese Navy conducted a missile test in the South Pacific, with state media reporting that a nuclear submarine fired a missile carrying a dummy warhead into international waters. The test quickly drew harsh criticism from US allies in the Pacific. Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the Chinese test was destabilizing for regional security. Japan called on China to reconsider its actions. New Zealand said it does not want China to use the South Pacific as a testing ground for missiles. "We are deeply concerned about China's tests of nuclear-capable weapons in the South Pacific," Foreign Minister Winston Peters said in Wellington During the Cold War, the US tested numerous nuclear weapons in the South Pacific's Bikini Atoll, which today is part of the Marshall Islands. Since World War II, the US has dominated the postwar security architecture in the Pacific region. What do we know about China's missile test? China's military buildup is now challenging this construct. Although official media have not released any details about the test, nationalist military experts are speculating on Chinese social media about how powerful the tested missile might have been. "It is a submarine-launched intercontinental ballistic missile of the Julang (JL)-3 series," wrote Lieutenant Colonel Zhang Junshe a researcher with the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Naval Military Academic Research Institute.
China has dozens of submarines capable of firing ballistic missiles [FILE: April 2019] Image: Artyom Ivanov/ITAR-TASS/IMAGO The Julang-3, which means "Giant Wave-3" in English, is currently still under development. It is said to have a maximum range of 12,000 kilometers (7,400 miles) and can carry multiple nuclear warheads. So far, three successful tests have been reported between 2018 and 2019. "The target of this missile is not combat troops on the front lines, but strategic targets such as command centers, military bases, or energy infrastructure," Zhang wrote in his blog. The "Giant Wave-3" is believed to have been launched from a Type 094 Jin-class nuclear-powered submarine. With a full crew of 120 sailors, the 135-meter-long submarine can sustain a submerged crew for at least 70 days. Currently, the Chinese Navy has six Type 094 submarines in service. Zhang said it cannot be ruled out that a modified submarine was involved. According to the Nuclear Threat Initiative, a Washington-based think tank, China operates an additional 59 nuclear-powered attack submarines in addition to the Jin-class submarines. China builds nuclear deterrent He added that the weapon is intended to serve as a comprehensive deterrent. "Even if all other military weapons were to be put out of action, the Chinese submarine would still be fully capable of launching a nuclear counterstrike," Zhang wrote. As early as September 2024, China had launched an intercontinental missile carrying a dummy warhead from the mainland toward the South Pacific. The missile reportedly landed in a pre-selected area in French Polynesia.
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