China announced it successfully launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) with a dummy warhead into the Pacific Ocean. The missile was fired at 08:44 local time (04:44 GMT) on Wednesday and landed in expected sea areas, according to Beijing’s defense ministry. They called the test a “routine” part of their “annual training.” The type of missile and its flight path were not specified, but Chinese state media said they had informed the relevant countries beforehand. Japan later stated that it received “no notice” about the test launch.
China’s nuclear tests usually happen within its borders, and it has previously fired ICBMs into the Taklamakan Desert in Xinjiang. This is believed to be the first time since 1980 that China launched an ICBM into international waters.
Ankit Panda, a nuclear weapons expert, noted on X that this is likely the first announced test of this kind in a long time. He found it strange that China called the test “routine” and “annual,” since they don’t typically conduct such tests regularly.
The Japanese government stated they received no prior notice of the ICBM launch. Government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi confirmed there was no advance warning from China. Japan’s defense ministry reported that there was no damage to its vessels and they will keep monitoring Chinese military activities closely.
The last similar test by China was in May 1980, when an ICBM flew 9,070 km and landed in the Pacific, involving 18 Chinese naval ships, making it one of China’s largest naval missions.
Drew Thompson, a researcher in Singapore, mentioned that while China claims the launch wasn’t aimed at any country, tensions with Japan, the Philippines, and Taiwan are high. He suggested the launch serves as a strong signal meant to intimidate these nations.
John Ridge, a US defense analyst, said China might have conducted the test to signal to the United States. Despite some improvements in US-China relations over the past year, China’s assertiveness in the region remains a conce