Australia has joined dozens of other nations in backing a United States call for countries to give advance notice of missile launches, after China test-fired a nuclear-capable missile into the South Pacific. The launch came just hours after Australia signed a mutual-defence pact with Fiji in July, and the missile is believed to have landed near Tuvalu, prompting widespread international criticism of Beijing.

The submarine-launched missile test has heightened regional security concerns across the Pacific, an area where China and Western allies including Australia and the US are competing for influence. Canberra's decision to back the US-led transparency call signals a firmer diplomatic stance towards Beijing, coming soon after Australia deepened its defence ties with Fiji.