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China conducts rare test of intercontinental ballistic missile into Pacific Ocean

China conducts rare test of intercontinental ballistic missile into Pacific Ocean

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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.

People's Liberation Army Rocket Force
1. This missile launch is a routine arrangement of the Rocket Force's annual military training. It effectively tests the performance of weapons and equipment and the level of troop training.
China Defense Ministry
1. It is in line with international law and international practice and is not directed against any country or target.
2. It is normal for China to conduct scientific research experiments within its territory according to plan.
Yoshimasa Hayashi
Government of Japan
1. China has been continuing to increase its defence budget at high levels, and widely and rapidly strengthening its nuclear and missile capability including ICBM.
Winston Peters
New Zealand First
1. Pacific leaders have clearly articulated their expectation that we have a peaceful, stable, prosperous, and secure region.
Héloïse Fayet
1. China usually conducts them on its own territory, because it has the space.
James Char
S Rajaratnam School of International Studies
1. Shooting out to the ocean requires prior communication with countries in the region, so it's not very common.
Ankit Panda
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
1. This missile may be part of a newer generation of ICBMs that have has previously never been tested into the Pacific. It's yet another symptom of the new nuclear age dawning in Asia.
2. My sense is China's nuclear modernization has caused a rethink of testing requirements.
3. Unless I'm missing something, I think this is essentially the first time this has happened - and been announced as such - in a long time.
Drew Thompson
Nanyang Technological University
1. China is not party to any agreement other than a bilateral agreement with Russia.
2. This is quite a statement to launch a ballistic missile into the Pacific at this time when China is in conflict with many of its neighbors.
3. This is a pretty bold and provocative statement, and I think the timing is significant.
4. China launches a lot of missiles. They don't announce a lot of them. It's interesting that they would choose now.
5. This launch is a powerful signal intended to intimidate everyone.
6. There's a long-standing global norm of notifying countries when certain long-range ballistic missiles are launched to prevent the risk of miscalculation.
7. It's taking place during the United Nations General Assembly.
8. But it's coming at a time when China has considerably heightened tension with Japan, with the Philippines, Taiwan of course, and political insecurity tensions with the US. It's a fraught time. It's also UN general assembly week. China is sending a strong signal about the power they can project around the world.
9. It is difficult to hide a ballistic missile launch into the Pacific, so it is sensible for Beijing to announce that it took place and control the narrative.
10. This ballistic missile test puts China's adversaries on notice that there are limits to its forbearance, and it also underscores the Communist Party's acute sense of risk and vulnerability.