New Zealand 'deeply concerned' after China launches nuclear-capable weapon in South Pacific
Monday, 6 July 2026
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters says New Zealand is “deeply concerned” by China’s testing of nuclear-capable weapons in the South Pacific.
Earlier on Monday, China informed the New Zealand Government of its plans to launch a long-range ballistic missile with a dummy warhead attached into the Pacific Ocean.
Chinese state media confirmed the missile was “successfully” launched off a nuclear submarine at around 12.01pm.
“The missile accurately landed in the designated area,” media outlet Xinhua reported. “This missile test was a routine part of China’s annual military training programme, and relevant countries had been notified in advance.
“It is in accordance with international law and practice and is not directed against any specific country or target,” they said.
Responding to the launch, Peters said that despite New Zealand’s “long-standing concerns”, China carried out the test within hours of informing the government, calling it an “unwelcome and concerning development”.
“We, like our neighbours in other Pacific countries, have no interest in China using the South Pacific as a testing site for missile capability.,” he said.
“Launching ballistic missiles into the South Pacific is at odds with the spirit and intent of the Blue Pacific Ocean of Peace.”
Peters said the missile was fired into the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone established by the Treaty of Rarotonga, and that China’s actions went “against the object and intent of that Treaty”.
He said the government will be talking with New Zealand’s other Pacific partners about China’s actions.
“Pacific leaders have been clear we do not want to see the region become a theatre for outside military competition. This launch is not consistent with regional stability, and peace in the South Pacific,” Peters said.
The news of the missile launch came just hours after Australia and Fiji announced a new defence alliance.
Signed by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, the Ocean of Defence peace pact contains mutual defence obligations for both countries.
In the agreement, it states that an armed attack on “any of the parties within the Pacific would be dangerous to each other’s peace and security as well as the security of the Pacific”.
It also stated that in the event of a “security-related development that threatens the sovereignty, peace or stability of a party, the parties shall consult at the request of any party and consider whether any measures should be taken in relation to the threat”.
Albanese said the signing of the agreement was “one of the most significant endeavours Australia has undertaken with any country”.
“The Ocean of Peace alliance introduces a mutual defence obligation and there is no higher obligation than to come to each other’s aid at a time of need,” he said.
It is expected that the agreement will be open to the three other Pacific nations with militaries in the form of Tonga, Papua New Guinea, and New Zealand.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon was asked about the agreement at a press conference on Monday, telling reporters that New Zealand’s involvement “would be a good thing”.
“I think New Zealand being in early would be a good thing … you would have an ability to ultimately determine which other countries could join from across the Pacific,” he said.
Luxon added that the Cabinet had “signalled” an interest in joining the agreement. “That is something that we are open to looking at for sure.”
Asked whether the new alliance could aggravate China, Luxon said it wouldn’t.
“No, really what it’s about is … in the unlikely event that if Fiji gets, you know, attacked, Australia has said that they have an ally relationship and they would backstop them and vice versa,” he said.
Peters said New Zealand was concerned the missile launch was part of a “recurring pattern” with China, following its test firing of an intercontinental ballistic missile into the South Pacific in 2024.
“We as a region should not sit by and allow such tests to become normalised or routine,” he said. “New Zealand will continue monitoring the situation in close coordination with regional partners.”
In February 2025, Chinese warships also conducted live firing exercises in the Tasman Sea causing several commercial flights to be diverted.
Stuff has approached the Chinese Embassy for comment.