China test-fires ICBM for first time in decades

China has announced the successful test launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) carrying a dummy warhead, marking the first such test into international waters since 1980.

The missile was launched by the People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force at 8:44 am local time (04:44 GMT) and fell into a designated area of the Pacific Ocean.

Chinese defense officials characterised the launch as a routine part of annual military training and stated that relevant countries were informed beforehand.

Analysts noted the unusual nature of this test, given that ICBM launches typically occur within Chinese territory.

Ankit Panda, a nuclear weapons expert at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, remarked that the designation of the test as “routine” and “annual” is misleading, as such tests have not occurred regularly or frequently in recent decades.

The missile's specifics, including its type and flight path, remain unclear.

However, China’s defense ministry emphasized that the launch was compliant with international laws and not directed against any particular country.

This launch comes amid heightened tensions in the Asia-Pacific region, particularly with Japan and Taiwan, and follows China’s suspension of nuclear arms talks with the US in July, protesting US arms sales to Taiwan.

Japan's government confirmed that no damage was reported from the missile's flight, and it appeared that the missile did not traverse Japanese airspace.

Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi expressed concerns over China’s rapid military expansion and lack of transparency, noting increased Chinese military activities around Japan.

The ICBM test is perceived as a powerful signal of China’s military capabilities, especially in light of ongoing regional tensions

In recent months, relations between China and its neighbors have strained due to incidents such as collisions between Chinese and Philippine ships in disputed waters and incursions into Japanese airspace by Chinese aircraft.

Furthermore, detoriation of regional ties also comes amidst scrutiny over statements made by Beijing's national security ministry alleging that the Taiwanese military was behind a series of cyber intrusions aimed at spreading "anti-propaganda" material within China which Taiwan’s Defence Minister Wellington Koo denied.

China's nuclear arsenal is estimated to have surpassed 500 operational warheads, with projections indicating it could reach 1,500 by 2035.

This places China’s nuclear capabilities significantly below those of the United States and Russia, which possess over 3,700 and 4,380 active nuclear warheads, respectively.

Tensions with the West are also expected to flare given sanctions were imposed by Britain, the European Union and the United States on Chinese companies related to Russia.