by Tusi Tala, Staff Writer
China has launched an intercontinental ballistic missile into the Pacific Ocean for the first time in 44 years, sparking concerns among foreign affairs officials and experts. The missile, carrying a dummy warhead, was part of a “routine arrangement” in China’s annual training plan, according to the Chinese defense ministry. However, the launch has been met with concern from New Zealand’s Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters, who described it as an “unwelcome and concerning development.” Associate Professor Nicholas Khoo from the University of Otago believes the launch sets a precedent for China to conduct regular missile tests in the region, which could jeopardize stability in the Asia-Pacific. Ankit Panda, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, suggests that the test may have been designed to demonstrate China’s nuclear capabilities and boost morale within the military. While the United States has also conducted similar tests, the frequency and location of China’s missile launches are raising concerns about the potential for increased tensions in the region.
New Zealand has a long-standing history of opposition to missile tests, particularly in the Pacific, where French nuclear tests in the late 20th century sparked significant alarm and protest among New Zealanders. The tests, conducted at Mururoa Atoll, raised serious environmental and health concerns, leading to widespread public outcry. New Zealand’s government, reflecting the growing anti-nuclear sentiment among its citizens, adopted a firm stance against nuclear weapons and testing, culminating in the 1984 legislation that established the country as a nuclear-free zone. This move not only underscored New Zealand’s commitment to peace and environmental protection but also strained its diplomatic relations with France, highlighting the tensions that arose from differing views on nuclear policy in the region. The legacy of these events continues to shape New Zealand’s foreign relations and its advocacy for disarmament.
