China rattled neighbors from Japan to Australia on Monday by test-launching a long-range ballistic missile from a nuclear submarine in the Pacific Ocean. While such launches are rare, the latest test reflects Beijing’s increasing openness about its growing military strength.

On today’s Big Take Asia podcast, Rebecca Choong Wilkins, who covers Asian government and politics, joins host K. Oanh Ha to discuss the surprise launch, China’s expanding arsenal and what they reveal about Beijing’s military aspirations for 2027 and beyond.

Read more: 
China’s ICBM Tests Point to New Normal Rattling the Pacific
China Holds Rare Test of Sub-Launched Missile in Pacific Ocean
China’s Secretive Missile Program Is Making Dozens of Companies Rich

We have a special Bloomberg subscription offer for podcast listeners at Bloomberg.com/podcastoffer.

Hosted by K. Oanh Ha; Produced by Naomi Ng and Rachael Lewis-Krisky; Reported by Rebecca Choong Wilkins; Edited by Jeffrey Grocott, John Liu and Julia Weaver;

Fact-checking by Julia Press, David Fox and Yang Yang; Engineering by Taka Yasuzawa and Alex Sugiura.

Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

China rattled neighbors from Japan to Australia on Monday by test-launching a long-range ballistic missile from a nuclear submarine in the Pacific Ocean. While such launches are rare, the latest test reflects Beijing&rsquo;s increasing openness about its growing military strength.
On today&rsquo;s Big Take Asia podcast, Rebecca Choong Wilkins, who covers Asian government and politics, joins host K. Oanh Ha to discuss the surprise launch, China&rsquo;s expanding arsenal and what they reveal about Beijing&rsquo;s military aspirations for 2027 and beyond.
Read more:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-07-07/china-s-icbm-tests-point-to-new-normal-rattling-the-pacific?srnd=phx-politics">China&rsquo;s ICBM Tests Point to New Normal Rattling the Pacific</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-07-06/china-holds-rare-test-of-sub-launched-missile-in-pacific-ocean">China Holds Rare Test of Sub-Launched Missile in Pacific Ocean</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2026-china-missiles-military-ambitions/">China&rsquo;s Secretive Missile Program Is Making Dozens of Companies Rich</a></li>
</ul>
We have a special Bloomberg subscription offer for podcast listeners at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/subscriptions/podcasts">Bloomberg.com/podcastoffer.</a>
Hosted by K. Oanh Ha; Produced by Naomi Ng and Rachael Lewis-Krisky; Reported by Rebecca Choong Wilkins; Edited by Jeffrey Grocott, John Liu and Julia Weaver;
Fact-checking by Julia Press, David Fox and Yang Yang; Engineering by Taka Yasuzawa and Alex Sugiura.
Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

The Big Take from Bloomberg News brings you inside what’s shaping the world's economies with the smartest and most informed business reporters around the world. The context you need on the stories that can move markets. Every afternoon.

The Big Take from Bloomberg News brings you inside what’s shaping the world's economies with the smartest and most informed business reporters around the world. The context you need on the stories that can move markets. Every afternoon.

Big Take

Why China Is Flashing Its Military Muscle

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/5c74539b-8e2f-4363-8763-b48001455c72/transcript