Photos released of China's missile launch in South Pacific

<p>Photos have been released of the nuclear-capable test missile fired by China in the South Pacific.</p> <p>The photos, which were released by Xinhua News Agency and obtained by the Associated Press, show the long-range ballistic missile being launched from a Chinese nuclear-submarine.</p> <p>Yesterday, 1News reported New Zealand and Australia were only given hours’ notice before the missile was launched at 12.01pm (US time), shortly after Australia and Fiji <a href="https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/07/06/australia-and-fiji-ink-new-mutual-defence-alliance/" target="_blank">signed a comprehensive and elevated security pact</a> on mutual defence.</p> <p>It was a move New Zealand’s Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters labelled <a href="https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/07/06/deeply-concerning-china-fires-nuclear-capable-test-missile-in-south-pacific/" target="_blank">“deeply concerning”</a>.</p> <p><a href="https://www.tvnz.co.nz/player/newsclip/swift-condemnation-after-china-fires-missile-in-pacific" target="_blank"><b>Swift condemnation after China fires missile in Pacific - Watch on TVNZ+</b></a></p> <p>The incident has also caused New Zealand's political parties to <a href="https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/07/07/nz-political-parties-join-forces-over-chinas-pacific-missile/" target="_blank">join forces</a> – with Labour leader Chris Hipkins endorsing the Government’s response this morning.</p> <p>After the missile had been launched, 1News Pacific Correspondent Barbara Dreaver wrote the time of publicly tip-toeing around China’s geopolitical push in the Pacific <a href="https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/07/07/barbara-dreaver-chinas-missile-test-sends-unmistakable-pacific-message/" target="_blank">seemed to be over</a>.</p> <p>It was not the first time China had fired missiles into the Pacific. It did so in 2024, when a missile flew past parts of Kiribati.</p> <p>Early last year, Chinese warships also carried out live firing exercises between Australia and New Zealand.</p> <p>New Zealand was not the only country expressing concern at the latest launch.</p> <p>AAP reported <a href="https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/07/07/china-nuclear-missile-tests-destabilising-pacific-aus-minister/" target="_blank">Australia Defence Minister Richard Marles</a> was also “concerned”.</p> <p>“We've expressed that very clearly to China,” Marles said.</p> <p>According to the Associated Press, Japan's Defence Ministry urged Beijing to “rethink” its testing.</p> <p>“China’s military activities, combined with its lack of transparency, have become a grave concern for Japan and the international society,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said.</p> <p>Beijing however dismissed the concern.</p> <p>“We hope that the relevant countries will avoid overinterpretation,” a spokesperson for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.</p>