Australia presses China over South Pacific ballistic missile test

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong raised concern over Beijing's test of a nuclear-capable missile in the South Pacific, as she met her Chinese counterpart in Manila.

A Chinese submarine fired the ballistic missile fitted with a dummy warhead this month, reaching far into the Pacific Ocean.

In opening remarks to China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi as the pair met late Tuesday, Wong expressed concern about the missile and "safe and professional military conduct, and the importance of transparency and reassurance of intent".

Australia has previously said it did not receive sufficient notice of the missile test and a dozen Pacific Island countries have denounced it for violating the region's wish to remain free of nuclear weapons testing.

Monitors have said the rocket appeared to land in a patch of ocean somewhere between Solomon Islands, Nauru and Tuvalu.

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(Except for the headline this story has not ben edited by Firstpost staff.)