China Tests Submarine Missiles and Increases Naval Presence Near Taiwan

The People's Liberation Army Navy fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile with a dummy warhead into the South Pacific on July 6, marking its first acknowledged strategic submarine missile test in that region. A navy spokesperson characterized the test as routine. This military action coincided with an escalation in Chinese maritime activity east of Taiwan, including expanded Coast Guard patrols and oceanographic surveys.

Maritime tensions intensified on July 10 and 11, as Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence detected multiple Chinese naval and official ships operating around its territorial waters. Specifically, on July 10, the ministry identified five naval vessels, three official ships, and two aircraft sorties, followed by further detections of a naval vessel and an official ship on July 11.

In response to these pressures, Taiwan conducted tabletop exercises simulating a blockade, while Japan deployed land-to-ship missiles and reassessed defense spending. The United States provided M1A2T Abrams tanks to Taiwan and advanced the PORCUPINE Act to accelerate arms sales. Diplomatically, Beijing continued to reject maritime boundary talks between Japan and the Philippines as illegal.