Indonesia monitors developments in China's ballistic missile test

The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is continuing to monitor developments regarding China’s test of a long-range ballistic missile system launched from a nuclear-powered submarine in the Pacific Ocean earlier this week. “We are certainly continuing to monitor reports regarding this ballistic missile test,” said Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Yvonne Mewengkang when met after a media briefing in Jakarta on Thursday. She stated that, fundamentally, there is no general prohibition in international law against the possession or testing of ballistic missiles, as carried out by China. Yvonne also confirmed that notification had been received from the Beijing government regarding the implementation of their ballistic missile test. The notification, she said, is an important step as a form of transparency by a country and is part of efforts to maintain trust with international partners. The Chinese Navy on Monday carried out a test launch of a long-range ballistic missile from a nuclear-powered submarine in the South Pacific region. China’s state news agency reported that the missile, carrying a dummy warhead, was launched at 12:01 local time and “landed precisely in the designated waters”, without disclosing the location or the type of missile used. A number of analysts estimate that China tested the JL-2 or JL-3 intercontinental ballistic missile from a Type 094A submarine. The test was the first submarine-launched nuclear missile conducted by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army since 2024. At that time, China launched an intercontinental ballistic missile into waters near French Polynesia in the Pacific Ocean, which was the first launch targeting that region since 1980. On the same day, the Chinese government stressed that the ballistic missile test was part of routine annual military exercises, in accordance with international law, and was not directed at any specific country or target. “This is a routine arrangement in China’s annual military training programme. It is in accordance with international law and applicable international practice and is not directed at any specific country or target,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning at a press conference in Beijing. Meanwhile, authorities in Japan, the United States, and South Korea have expressed their concerns over China’s test launch of the long-range ballistic missile.