The missile was launched at 8:44 a.m. local time on Wednesday, the Chinese Defense Ministry said. the tests were successful and the object “fell into the expected sea areas” – do Pacific Ocean. The Chinese side emphasizes that it was “routine test” that is “part of annual training.”
The media indicates that the missile's flight path was not disclosed. However, Beijing assures that all “concerned countries have been informed in advance.”
China. Ballistic Missile Tests. “This Is Basically the First Time”
However, experts point out that it was not a “routine test”because the last time China fired an intercontinental ballistic missile into international waters in May 1980. At that time flew 9070 km and landed in the Pacific. Eighteen Chinese warships participated in this operation. These operations are still ongoing is considered one of China's largest naval missions.
“Unless I missed something, I think this is basically the first time this has happened – and been announced as such – in a long timeu,” wrote Ankit Panda, a weapons specialist at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace think tank, on social media. He stressed that the Chinese side does not carry out such actions “either routinely or annually.”
Chinese weapons tests generally take place domestically, and ballistic missiles were sent to the Westtowards the Taklamakan Desert in the Xinjiang region.
China. Ballistic Missile Tests. Japan's Reaction
She reacted to the events JapanThe country's Defense Ministry said none of the ships were damaged.
– We will continue to collect and analyze information on the movements of the Chinese military. and we will take all possible precautions, the Japanese Defense Minister said via state television NHK.
John Ridge, a US defence analyst, said China may have conducted the test to “signal something” United States.