DND Condemns China’s Ballistic Missile Test in the South Pacific; U.S. Also Raises Concern

The Philippine Department of National Defense (DND) has strongly condemned China’s recent ballistic missile test in the South Pacific, describing it as a dangerous and irresponsible display of military power that could heighten regional tensions and threaten the security of smaller nations, as well as the fragile marine environment.

In a statement released Tuesday, DND Spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said the missile launch served no peaceful purpose and was a deliberate act of intimidation and provocation against countries opposing what he described as China’s illegal expansion of influence and increasingly coercive actions in the region. He added that such activities demonstrate a disregard for the sovereignty of smaller states and the delicate ocean ecosystems upon which many coastal communities depend for their livelihoods.

Earlier, China confirmed that its military had conducted a test launch of a strategic ballistic missile carrying a dummy warhead into the Pacific Ocean. While Beijing maintained that the launch was part of its routine military training program, the exercise drew concern and criticism from several Indo-Pacific nations over its potential implications for regional security and stability.

In response, the DND said the Philippines stands in solidarity with countries across the Pacific region in urging China to exercise greater restraint and responsibility, and to refrain from using shared international waters as a venue for military intimidation and demonstrations of force.

The United States also expressed concern over China’s rapidly expanding and increasingly opaque nuclear weapons program. Speaking on behalf of the U.S. State Department, spokesperson Tommy Pigott said that while the United States continues to pursue global nuclear non-proliferation efforts, China’s ongoing military buildup appears to be moving in the opposite direction, raising broader security concerns.

The latest missile launch comes nearly two years after China conducted an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test into waters near French Polynesia—the country’s first such launch into international waters in more than four decades. Governments across the Indo-Pacific continue to closely monitor Beijing’s military activities and their potential impact on regional peace, stability, and security.