China Successfully Launches Intercontinental Ballistic Missile into Pacific Ocean

A statement released on the website ​of the Ministry of National Defense announced that the People’s Liberation Army⁣ Rocket Force successfully launched an ‌intercontinental ballistic missile carrying a simulated warhead into the ‍relevant high ⁢seas of the Pacific Ocean and landed correctly in the pre-determined‌ sea area.

The ‌statement emphasized that the missile launch​ was ‍a “routine procedure” for annual military training, complied with international law and practice, and was ‍not targeted at any specific country or target.

Xinhua News Agency ⁤reported⁣ that China had​ notified relevant countries in advance, but did not⁣ specify the missile’s flight path or the specific location where ⁤it landed on the high ‌seas.

International Community Expresses Concern Over Increased‍ Military⁤ Activity in China

Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary, Hayashi Masaashi, stated that Japan believes that China has increased its military activity, including the launch of intercontinental ballistic missiles, which is a matter of great ⁢concern ⁤to Japan and the international community.

Chinese military supporters pointed out that the People’s⁣ Liberation Army’s ‌Liaoning fleet, ‌including a Type 055, a comprehensive supply ship and three Type 052D destroyers,‍ had sailed at full speed towards the waters of the Eastern Pacific.

Missile Launch Details and Specifications

The Chinese ​military has not announced‌ the specific model of the⁢ missile. However, Hong Kong ​military commentator Leung Kwok-leung suggested that the ⁤foreign open-source⁢ intelligence gathering tool OSINTer judged the ⁤flight path and point of⁤ impact drawn based on public⁣ airspace warnings ‌and concluded that it should be a Dongfeng-41A intercontinental⁣ missile ⁤launched from a mobile launcher in Guangxi.

The missile flew through the airspace of Bashi Channel and Guam, ⁣and landed in ⁤the high seas east ⁢of Polynesia in Oceania, with a range of more than 12,000 kilometers.

China’s ‍Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Capabilities

China began ​using DF-41‍ intercontinental ballistic missiles in 2017. The Rocket Force currently has three land-launched intercontinental missiles,⁢ including the⁣ “Dongfeng-31”, with a maximum range of 12,000 kilometers; the “Dongfeng-41”, with ⁤a maximum range of 14,000 kilometers and up to 10 nuclear warheads; and the “Dongfeng-5B/C”, a heavy-duty liquid-fueled, ⁢silo-launched intercontinental ballistic missile with a range⁣ of up to 15,000 kilometers.