China Conducts First Publicized ICBM Test in Decades

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Facts

  • The People's Liberation Army's (PLA) Rocket Force, which is responsible for China's conventional and nuclear missiles, successfully launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on Wednesday.[1]
  • According to the Chinese Defense Ministry, the missile carried a dummy warhead and landed in the Pacific Ocean. The ministry stated that the launch was part of its regular yearly training schedule and was not aimed at any specific country.[2]
  • According to state news agency Xinhua, China informed relevant countries about the launch beforehand, including the US, as reported by a Pentagon official. Wednesday's launch was the first publicly announced of its kind in the region in over 40 years. Xinhua reported that all test objectives were successful.[3][4]
  • The Japanese Coast Guard said China warned it of falling 'space debris' earlier this week. Subsequently, Japan issued a warning to ships about potential debris in three areas in the South China Sea and Pacific. Yoshimasa Hayashi, Japan's senior government spokesman, contradicted this, claiming China didn't notify Japan before its ICBM test.[5]
  • Analysts noted that it is uncommon for China to launch long-range missiles into the sea, as the country typically opts for unannounced tests in remote provinces like Inner Mongolia.[6]
  • This comes as China is developing a triad of land, sea, and air weapons. According to a Pentagon estimate, there are over 500 active nuclear weapons in China's possession, of which 350 are ICBMs. The Pentagon predicts that by 2030, China will possess more than 1K warheads.[6]

Sources: [1]Guardian, [2]Al Jazeera, [3]CNN, [4]Reuters, [5]Dw.Com and [6]WION.

Narratives

  • Anti-China narrative, as provided by The Edge Malaysia. China launched an ICBM on Wednesday, just as world leaders convened in New York for the UN General Assembly. It was a blatant demonstration of China's military strength as it works to expand its nuclear arsenal. Beijing is displaying to the world that it can launch strategic weapons against any country. However, Washington and its allies will not succumb to intimidation.
  • Pro-China narrative, as provided by TASS. China has every right to test ICBMs. China has been transparent about its nuclear arsenal buildup, which requires testing to ensure its functionality. The launch was part of a military drill in which the PLA evaluated munitions and personnel readiness. The ICBM launch was in accordance with international law, and China announced the test well in advance. If anything, this demonstrates Beijing's strengthening military correspondence with other nations.

Predictions