China said it had "successfully conducted" the test launch of a strategic missile from a submarine, hours after notifying several Pacific nations of the planned launch.
"The Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy on Monday successfully conducted the test launch of a strategic missile by a submarine," state-run Xinhua News Agency reported.
The launch marks China's second strategic missile test since it fired an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) into the Pacific Ocean in September 2024, the country's first such test since 1980.
Earlier on Monday, media outlets in Australia, New Zealand and Japan reported that their governments had been notified by Beijing of an imminent test launch of a nuclear-capable long-range missile over the South Pacific.
According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), maritime intelligence company Starboard published satellite images showing two Chinese tracking vessels operating in the Pacific, where they were expected to monitor the ballistic missile test.
China confirmed the launch hours after Australia signed a landmark defence agreement with its Pacific island neighbour Fiji.
Concern over regional destabilisation
"Australia has been clear with China that we regard this as destabilising to the region," Foreign Minister Penny Wong told reporters.
New Zealand also voiced concern, with Foreign Minister Winston Peters saying the launch of what he described as a "nuclear-capable" long-range missile was "not consistent with regional stability".
"The Pacific is an Ocean of Peace, and we are deeply concerned by China's testing of nuclear-capable weapons into the South Pacific," Peters said in a statement.
Japan said it had strongly urged Beijing to reconsider the missile test.
"We strongly called for a rethink of the ballistic missile test-firing so that it would not pose a threat to Japan's security, including by passing through Japan's airspace," the Japanese government said in a statement issued before the launch.
