China's second Pacific missile test in two years signals escalating military presence

China conducted a submarine-launched ballistic missile test into the South Pacific on 6 July 2026, giving New Zealand only hours' notice. Foreign Minister Winston Peters said the test violated the Treaty of Rarotonga, which established the zone as nuclear-free. Peters flagged a concerning pattern: China tested an ICBM into the Pacific in September 2024. Both tests were announced as routine military exercises. Pacific Island nations, including the Chinese-aligned Kiribati, protested the 2024 launch.