China Conducts Successful Test of Intercontinental Ballistic Missile
Russia: “It is China's sovereign right to test its missiles.” Japan says it is “gravely concerned about the increase in military activity”
On the morning of Wednesday, September 25, the missile forces of Chinese People’s Liberation Army successfully launched a novel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) that likely carried a mockup of a separable nuclear warhead.
China’s Defense Ministry did not specify the distance traveled by the carrier, saying in a statement only that the missile ended up “in the Pacific Ocean, falling in the expected sea areas.” The words “expected sea areas” immediately made one think that in addition to the missile, the release of a separable independent warhead, the so-called MIRV (Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicles), would also be tested.
“This test launch is a routine operation in the annual training plan of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, is in line with international law and practice, and is not directed against any country or specific target,” China’s Defense Ministry emphasized in the same statement.
And while Russia says it is China’s “sovereign right to test its missiles,” Japan has said China’s missile launches are a serious concern. According to Japanese government Chief of Staff Yoshimasa Hayashi, political leaders in Tokyo were caught off guard because “Beijing gave no advance notice of its plans.”
“Beijing’s growing military activity is a cause for serious concern,” said a Japanese government spokesman.
