All articles tagged with #asia pacific tensions
China’s navy fired a ballistic missile from a nuclear-powered submarine with a dummy warhead into the Pacific as part of its annual training, pre-notified to relevant governments. New Zealand said the missile landed in the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone, prompting condemnation from Australia and Japan and underscoring worries about Beijing’s expanding naval reach in the Asia-Pacific.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin emphasized that war with China is neither imminent nor unavoidable, highlighting the importance of dialogue to prevent miscalculations. Speaking at the Shangri-La defense forum in Singapore, Austin's comments followed a meeting with Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun, marking the first high-level military talks since 2022. Despite ongoing disputes over Taiwan and the South China Sea, Austin stressed the need for continued communication to manage tensions and avoid conflict.