China Rarely Test-Fires Missile into Pacific, Participants of RIMPAC Express Close Attention

According to Voice of America Chinese, during this year's U.S.-led Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise involving 30 countries, China made the rare move of test-firing a ballistic missile from a nuclear submarine into the Pacific Ocean. The timing of the test, coinciding with the exercises, has drawn widespread attention. Captain William Mathis of the U.S. aircraft carrier confirmed that the situation was monitored. While outside observers speculated on the missile type, former Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu pointed out that the test involved a JL-2 missile launched from the South China Sea, which flew over northern the Philippines and landed in the high seas of the South Pacific. A Philippine Coast Guard captain noted that China's last missile test was in September 2024, making this the first in two years. Military commentator Shih Hsiu-wei noted that the RIMPAC exercises are designed to train participating nations in responding to various maritime contingencies, possessing a region-wide scope while potentially being tactically directed at specific countries. Chinese official media stated that the launch was a routine military training exercise not directed at any specific country.

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The screw symbol behind me now is the only flagship and core carrier strike group of this RIMPAC exercise.

This year's U.S.-led Rim of the Pacific exercise involves 30 countries participating around Hawaii.

In fact, right at the time of the exercises, China made the rare move of launching a ballistic missile from a nuclear submarine, landing directly in the Pacific Ocean.

The timing precisely coincided with this largest-scale military exercise.

Regarding this, Captain William Mathis of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt stated that they indeed monitored the situation.

Outside observers speculated that the missile tested by China this time might be a JL-3.

However, former Taiwan Foreign Minister and Secretary-General of the National Security Council Joseph Wu posted that the missile test by the Chinese navy was a JL-2, launched from the waters of the South China Sea, flying over northern Luzon in the Philippines, and finally landing in the high seas of the South Pacific between Nauru and Tonga.

The Philippine Coast Guard is participating in the Rim of the Pacific exercise for the first time this year.

Regarding China's missile test, Commander Jomark Angeles of the patrol vessel BRP Gabriela Silang stated that this is not the first time.

China's last missile test was in September 2024.

This launch is the first in two years.

At the time of the exercises, the geopolitical situation has attracted attention.

Military commentator Shih Hsiu-wei pointed out that the core purpose of the Rim of the Pacific exercise is to train all participating nations to jointly develop the capability to respond to various maritime emergencies in the Pacific.

It indeed treats any situation within the entire Pacific region or the peripheral seas surrounding the Pacific as potential problem options to be encountered during the exercise.

Because it needs to train all surrounding countries participating in the Rim of the Pacific exercise to possess similar, close to, or equivalent capabilities.

Today, it could be the Philippines, it could be Philippine bases, or it could be a coastal area of some country that encounters such a problem.

Basically, the setting of this subject is region-wide and not targeted at any specific country.

However, of course, saying it is not targeted strategically, but is targeted tactically—I think that makes sense.

This rare display of strategic power by China has been criticized by Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and Taiwan.

China's official Xinhua News Agency reported that this launch was a routine arrangement for military training and does not target any specific country or objective.

Voice of America reporter Yuhe Wang reporting from Jiu Dao, Hawaii.