Two weeks ago, a PLA Navy submarine in the South China Sea test-fired a nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile that flew 7,300 kilometers before splashing down in the South Pacific. The launch drew sharp criticism from several Pacific Island countries, whose leaders argued that it violated the region's longstanding identity as a nuclear-free zone.

To be clear, the test did not violate international law or established norms. The United States, France, and other nuclear powers have conducted similar missile tests in the Pacific for decades.

Even so, Zhang Denghua, a senior research fellow at the Australian National University's Department of Pacific Affairs and CGSP's non-resident fellow for the Pacific, argues that the launch could erode Beijing's hard-earned influence in the region. He joins Eric to discuss the strategic implications of the test, China's intensifying competition with traditional powers in the Pacific, and why Taiwan remains such a potent issue for Beijing in this part of the world.

📌 Topics Covered in This Episode

• China's unprecedented Pacific missile test
• Why Pacific leaders condemned the launch
• Australia's new Pacific security partnerships
• China's growing rivalry with regional powers
• Papua New Guinea closes Taiwan office
• What's next at the Pacific Islands Forum

Show Notes:

• The China-Global South Project: What To Know About China's Recent Missile Test in the South Pacific by Zhang Denghua
• The China-Global South Project: How Pacific Island Nations Are Capitalizing on Major Power Rivalry by Zhang Denghua
• The China-Global South Project: Japan is Eyeing China's Moves in the Pacific by Zhang Denghua

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