Winston Peters 'deeply concerned' after China conducts missile test in South Pacific

The Foreign Minister says he's "deeply concerned" by China's testing of nuclear-capable weapons into the South Pacific, calling it an "unwelcome" development. "This launch is not consistent with regional stability, and peace in the South Pacific," Winston Peters said on Monday. He said the government was informed "earlier today" of China's plans to launch a long-range ballistic missile into the South Pacific "It appears that despite our long-standing concerns about this type of activity, China carried out the test within hours of informing us." It comes after the signing of a new defence alliance on Monday between Australia and Fiji. The Australian had reported the test appeared to be in retaliation to the Ocean of Peace Alliance. The agreement was signed in Fiji and was described as a "mutual defence treaty" by Australian ministers . Peters said launching ballistic missiles into the South Pacific was "at odds with the spirit and intent of the Blue Pacific Ocean of Peace". The missile was fired into the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone established by the Treaty of Rarotonga and Peters said China's action "goes against the object and intent of that Treaty". Chinese President Xi Jinping. Li Xiang / Xinhua via AFP "New Zealand considers this 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." Peters said he'd be talking to New Zealand's Pacific partners about the development, "we do not want to see the region become a theatre for outside military competition". He was also concerned this seemed to be a recurring pattern by China, following the test firing of an intercontinental ballistic missile into the South Pacific in 2024. That test was the first time China had launched a missile into the Pacific Ocean in the past 44 years. Peters said at the time it was an unwelcome "and concerning development" . In 2025, New Zealand received no notice from China that it would be sending three naval ships to the Tasman Sea. Then-defence minister Judith Collins said it was a "wake up call" . "We as a region should not sit by and allow such tests to become normalised or routine," Peters said on Monday. "We as a region should not sit by and allow such tests to become normalised or routine," he said. Peters added that New Zealand would continue monitoring the situation in close coordination with regional partners. RNZ has approached the Chinese Embassy for comment. The Chinese news agency Xinhua reported China's military conducted a test launch of a strategic missile from a submarine, with a test missile topped with a dummy warhead landing in "designated waters" of the Pacific. The missile test was a "routine arrangement" of China's annual military training, with prior notification to relevant countries, Xinhua said. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon was asked about the new alliance agreement on Monday, and confirmed he'd spoken to both the Australian and Fijian Prime Ministers about it. "They have obviously formed an ally relationship," Luxon said. He also said the government had signalled New Zealand was interested in exploring joining the agreement, but final decisions were yet to be made by cabinet. "New Zealand being in early would be a good thing, because also you would have an ability to ultimately determine which other countries could join from across the Pacific." AFP reports that Japan strongly urged China to reconsider the launch after the Japanese embassy in Beijing was informed by Chinese authorities before the event. "We strongly called for a rethink of the ballistic missile test-firing, so that it won't pose a threat to Japan's security such as by passing through Japan's airspace," a joint government statement said. "Through close coordination among relevant ministries, we will strive to ensure the safety of our airspace and maritime territory, with the ministry of defence fully prepared for surveillance and monitoring." "We expressed serious concerns over China's increasing military activity," the statement said. China's navy said it successfully conducted a test missile launch in the Pacific Ocean on Monday.