China's recent ballistic missile test was "a reckless display of military power" and "a calculated act of taunting and provocation", the Department of National Defense (DND) said on Tuesday, as it voice concern over the recent activity of People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) in the Pacific Ocean.

In a statement, DND spokesman and Assistant Secretary Arsenio Andolong said "the Philippines stands with its Pacific partners in calling on China to act responsibly and stop turning shared seas into arenas of intimidation and imperial ambition".

"The Department of National Defense shares the concern about China’s recent ballistic missile test in the South Pacific, a reckless display of military power that shows little regard for smaller countries and the fragile ecological systems that sustain their people," he said.

"This launch serves no peaceful purpose and is a calculated act of taunting and provocation against those who reject China’s illegal expansionism and coercive conduct," he added.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman for the West Philippine Sea retired Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said the intercontinental strategic missile was launched by a nuclear-powered submarine in the South Pacific on Monday.

Although China claimed that the missile test is part of their annual training routine, the AFP expressed concern over the activity noting that "such a demonstration of advanced strategic nuclear capability compounds existing regional anxieties."

"In line with the Department of National Defense (DND) and national government pronouncements, the AFP maintains that peace, stability, and adherence to international law must guide all state actions in the Indo-Pacific," Trinidad said.

"As we approach the 10th anniversary of our 2016 Arbitral Victory on July 12, the AFP remains firm in its mandate to protect our sovereignty and sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea. We call for transparency, restraint, and a cessation of actions that escalate tensions or threaten the rules-based international order," he added. Robina Asido/PHS