South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone

China’s navy test-launched a long-range ballistic missile on 6 July from one of its nuclear-powered submarines in the South Pacific.  

The missile carried a dummy warhead. China last conducted a missile test in the Pacific two years ago, firing an intercontinental ballistic missile with a dummy warhead, the first since 1980. 

Australia, Japan and New Zealand have criticized the launch. The New Zealand government said it was informed hours beforehand and noted that the missile was fired into the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone. 

About South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone

The zone was established by the 1986 Treaty of Rarotonga, which prohibits nuclear weapons throughout the region. 

The treaty entered into force on 11 December 1986. China ratified the protocols in 1987, pledging not to test nuclear weapons within the zone or threaten to use them against signatories with territory in the region. 

Of the five nuclear-weapon states, France and the United Kingdom have ratified all three protocols while Russia and China have only ratified Protocols II and III. U.S. ratification of all three protocols is pending.

Sources: TH

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