China fires submarine-launched ballistic missile into Pacific, notifies Japan in advance

A Chinese navy nuclear submarine launched a strategic ballistic missile into the open Pacific on Monday, with Beijing saying it had notified relevant countries in advance. Japan confirmed it had received prior notice of the launch from China's Ministry of National Defense.

Wang Xuemeng, spokesperson for the People's Liberation Army Navy, said on social media that a Chinese strategic nuclear submarine successfully launched one submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) carrying a simulated training warhead from the open Pacific at 12:01 p.m. local time Monday, and that it landed accurately in the designated area.

Wang said the missile test was conducted in accordance with China's annual military training plan. He added that relevant countries had been notified in advance, that the launch complied with international law and international practice, and that it was not directed at any specific country or target.

The Chinese military did not disclose the missile's type, range or impact coordinates.

Japan's government said it received advance notice of the launch from China's Ministry of National Defense. The Japanese Embassy in Beijing was briefed on the ballistic missile launch plan by the Chinese Defense Ministry at 11:30 a.m. Japan time.

China designated waters south of Cape Shionomisaki in Wakayama Prefecture as the zone related to the launch, and part of that area is believed to fall within Japan's exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

Japan's government strongly called for China to reconsider any ballistic missile launch exercises that could pass through Japanese airspace or threaten Japan's security. Tokyo also conveyed serious concern over what it described as a recent increase in Chinese military activity.

The Japanese government said relevant ministries would work together to ensure the safety of its airspace and maritime zones, while the Defense Ministry would lead efforts to strengthen alert and surveillance activities.

Earlier, Japan's Coast Guard had also received information from Chinese authorities on Sunday about a designated zone for falling space debris. Part of that zone overlapped with Japan's EEZ, and China's Defense Ministry also briefed Japanese officials on the ballistic missile launch plan at the same time.

The test marks China's first strategic missile launch into the open Pacific in one year and 10 months, following its intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test in September 2024. That launch was China's first ICBM fired toward the Pacific in 44 years — since the Dongfeng (DF)-5 test in 1980 — and was believed to have involved the Dongfeng (DF)-31AG, a missile capable of striking the continental United States.

The South China Morning Post assessed the test as the first SLBM launch by a Chinese submarine in the Pacific and the first publicly acknowledged test firing from a strategic nuclear submarine.

While China insisted the launch was part of its annual military training, experts said it appeared designed to demonstrate the operational capability of its submarine-based nuclear forces and to reinforce its maritime nuclear deterrence.