China Test-Launches Intercontinental Missile Into Pacific Ocean
China conducted a rare intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test launch on Wednesday, sending a dummy warhead into the Pacific Ocean in a display of its growing military capabilities. This test is part of Beijing’s efforts to advance its nuclear arsenal, which has been rapidly expanding in recent years. According to a Pentagon report from October, China’s nuclear development is outpacing U.S. expectations, with Beijing holding over 500 operational nuclear warheads as of May 2023 and expected to surpass 1,000 by 2030.
The test, carried out by the Chinese military’s Rocket Force, took place at 08:44 on September 25, when the ICBM was launched and landed in predesignated areas of the Pacific Ocean. While China’s defense ministry described the launch as a “routine arrangement” within its annual training plan, military analysts view the test as highly unusual. Ankit Panda, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, noted that China typically conducts such tests within its airspace. He suggested that this trial likely signals China’s ongoing nuclear modernization, necessitating new forms of testing.
Despite the unusual nature of the test, China emphasized that the launch was conducted by international law and was not aimed at any particular nation or target.
China currently holds the third-largest stockpile of nuclear warheads globally, behind Russia and the United States, as reported by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). As part of its continued military expansion, Beijing announced a 7.2% increase in its defense budget this year, underscoring its growing military ambitions, especially in regions like the South China Sea and Taiwan, where tensions with the U.S. and its allies remain high.
Though China and the U.S. held rare talks on nuclear arms control last November, diplomatic efforts have stalled. Beijing suspended nuclear non-proliferation discussions with Washington in July, citing U.S. arms sales to Taiwan as a provocation.
China’s Rocket Force, which oversees the country’s nuclear arsenal, has also been embroiled in a high-profile anti-corruption campaign. Several top officials, including former chief of staff Sun Jinming and former defense minister Li Shangfu, have been removed from their posts or placed under investigation. Despite these internal issues, China’s nuclear modernization and military expansion continue, solidifying its position as a major global nuclear power.
