US condemns China's submarine missile test in Pacific, urges transparency

On July 6, 2026, the United States criticized China after it launched an unarmed submarine‑launched ballistic missile that landed in the southern Pacific Ocean, near the exclusive economic zones of Kiribati and Tuvalu. The U.S. State Department said Beijing’s opaque nuclear buildup threatens regional and global peace, urging China to adopt a formal notice system for all ICBM and space launches like the P5 nations. China’s PLA Navy said the test was a routine annual exercise, that relevant nations were warned in advance, and that the missile followed international law and hit no specific target. Australia and New Zealand also warned the launch threatened stability, noting the missile crossed the EEZs of Micronesia, Nauru, Kiribati and Tuvalu before landing near the Kiribati‑Tuvalu border.

For Nigeria, rising US‑China tensions could influence global oil prices and affect maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea, where Nigerian shipping routes overlap with major trade lanes. The episode also signals a broader arms race that may affect defence budgets and foreign‑policy alignments.

Given these developments, should Nigeria review its defence partnerships and maritime surveillance capabilities to safeguard its interests amid shifting great‑power dynamics?

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/07/07/us-slams-chinas-submarine-launched-ballistic-missile-test/