China's latest submarine-launched ballistic missile test into the Pacific marks another milestone in Beijing's military modernisation and has drawn concern from regional powers including the US, Japan, and Australia. As China advances towards its 2027 defence goals and strengthens its nuclear deterrent, questions are growing over whether the region is entering a new phase of strategic competition. What does this test reveal about China's long-term ambitions, and how should countries such as Malaysia respond to a more contested Indo-Pacific?

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