China conducts rare test of intercontinental ballistic missile into Pacific Ocean

China launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) into the Pacific Ocean on Wednesday, with the missile falling into the "expected" area, according to the nation's military. The test launch is described as a routine arrangement in China's annual training plan. The missile carried a dummy warhead and was launched by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Rocket Force. China has not specified the type of missile used, although one of its newest ICBMs is the DF-41. The launch comes as China has stepped up its nuclear development and boosted defense spending in recent years, with over 500 operational nuclear warheads as of May 2023. China has informed countries in the region of the launch in advance, but the flight path and landing location of the missile are unclear.