China announced on Wednesday that it had conducted a successful test of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) into the Pacific Ocean. The missile, carrying a dummy warhead, was launched by the People's Liberation Army Rocket Force at 8:44 a.m. Beijing time and landed in a designated area in the high seas of the Pacific.
The Chinese Defense Ministry stated that the test was part of its routine annual training and was not aimed at any specific country or target. The ministry emphasized that relevant countries were notified in advance of the launch.
This public test marks the first time in over four decades that China has announced a successful ICBM test in the Pacific Ocean. The last such test was celebrated in 1980 when China fired its first ICBM into the South Pacific.
Under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, China has been enhancing its nuclear capabilities and modernizing the PLA's Rocket Force, which oversees the country's expanding arsenal of nuclear and ballistic missiles. Satellite images have revealed the construction of numerous silos for ICBMs in China's deserts, indicating significant growth in Beijing's nuclear capabilities.
According to the US Defense Department's annual report on China's military, China currently possesses more than 500 operational nuclear warheads and is projected to have over 1,000 warheads by 2030. This development underscores China's commitment to strengthening its nuclear deterrence capabilities.
The successful ICBM test comes amid heightened tensions between China and the United States, as well as joint naval exercises with Russia in the vicinity of Japan. While China maintains that the test was part of routine training, the demonstration of its ICBM capabilities underscores its strategic military advancements in the region.
