New Zealand warns of China's Pacific military expansion

New Zealand officials, in a December 2025 report, warned that Chinese ballistic missile tests and naval forays will become a 'persistent' feature of the Pacific as China expands its security presence. The report, sent to New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, detailed the monitoring of a National Liberation Army flotilla in the Philippine Sea and highlighted a February 2025 deployment of three Chinese warships to the Tasman Sea, which caused commercial airlines to change routes. China's 2024 launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile into the Pacific was also noted. While China insists its aims are peaceful, its significant investment in defense and rapid naval expansion are unnerving some governments, including New Zealand and Australia, who are maintaining close contact and situational awareness.