Beijing’s missile flex sends its Pacific neighbours an unmistakeable warning

July 6, 2026 — 6:44pm

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Beijing: China’s testing of a nuclear-capable missile in the Pacific Ocean generated a splash that no one heard, but every country in the region felt.

Launched from a nuclear-powered submarine at midday Beijing time, it is only the second intercontinental ballistic missile with a dummy warhead that China has launched in 40 years, and just two years after the last test.

The timing was curious, coming only hours after Anthony Albanese inked an historic defence treaty with Fiji.

Diplomatic sources and experts have stressed this is almost certainly coincidental. Weapons testing takes weeks of planning, including to manoeuvre ships into position to track missiles and record data. This suggests Beijing was not rebuking Canberra for the temerity to........

© Brisbane Times