Pacific island states are trapped in Cold War 2.0

In early July, China conducted a test launch of a nuclear-capable missile from a submarine into the South Pacific. This event marks the first time China has utilized the region for such a long-range missile test, a domain historically associated with testing activities by the United States and its allies.

The launch prompted strong diplomatic opposition from Washington and Canberra. The incident highlights the intensifying geopolitical competition in the Pacific, with observers characterizing the regional environment as a new era of strategic rivalry between major powers.