Several Australian outlets report that China is preparing to conduct a missile test in the South Pacific involving a long-range, nuclear-capable ballistic weapon and a dummy warhead. ABC Australia and other publications say the test is expected to occur within the next 24 hours, based on information provided to governments and diplomats in the region.
ABC reports that the Chinese government has informed regional governments about the planned test earlier today, describing it as a ballistic missile test in the Pacific Ocean using a non-live (dummy) warhead. The Age, the Sydney Morning Herald, and the Brisbane Times similarly report that diplomats were told China will test-fire the nuclear-capable long-range missile with a dummy warhead.
Across the reports, the common elements are the timing window, the location in the South Pacific/Pacific Ocean, the use of a dummy warhead rather than an operational payload, and that regional governments were notified in advance by China. The outlets do not provide additional technical details beyond these points, and no outcomes of the test are described.
