Beijing: China has successfully test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) carrying a dummy warhead into the Pacific Ocean, for the first time in decades. Beijing’s defence ministry said that, “The ICMB was launched and fell into expected sea areas,” adding that the test launch was a part of its routine and ‘annual training.’
China typically conducts its nuclear weapon tests domestically, having previously test-fired ICBMs westward into the Taklamakan Desert in the Xinjiang region. This is thought to be the first instance since 1980 that the country has launched an ICBM into international waters. The type of missile and its flight path remained unclear.
Although Beijing had informed the countries concerned in advance, this launch has raised concerns among international observers, with calls for renewed dialogue and transparency regarding China’s military expansion.
U.S. officials expressed alarm over the implications of the test, emphasizing the need for diplomatic efforts to mitigate escalating tensions.
Japan’s defence ministry said there has been no damage to its vessels and they will continue to analyse and collect information about the Chinese military as they find it difficult to digest the fact that the military stated that they do this as part of a routine.
The test is viewed as a response to heightened tensions in the Asia-Pacific region and evolving security dynamics. Analysts suggest that this move signals China’s intent to bolster its nuclear deterrent amid increasing military activities from the United States and its allies in the region.
The last time China conducted a similar test was in May 1980, when the ICBM travelled 9,070 kilometres before landing in the Pacific Ocean. That test involved 18 Chinese naval ships and is regarded as one of China’s largest naval operations to date.
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