China Conducts Strategic Missile Test in Pacific Ocean; Japan Expresses Concern

Beijing, July 6: China announced on Monday that it had successfully conducted a strategic missile test in the Pacific Ocean, amid growing regional concerns over Beijing’s military activities and reports that it was preparing to test an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).

According to a statement issued by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, a strategic nuclear-powered submarine launched a strategic missile equipped with a training warhead at 12:01 p.m. local time. The missile was fired toward the open Pacific Ocean and successfully landed in its designated maritime target area.

Chinese Navy spokesperson Wang Xue Meng said the launch was carried out as part of the PLA Navy’s scheduled annual military training exercises.

China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency stated that the missile test was a routine component of the country’s annual military drills and that relevant countries had been informed in advance.

Meanwhile, Japan voiced concern over the launch despite receiving prior notification. Before the missile test, Japan’s Ministries of Defence and Foreign Affairs issued a joint statement urging Beijing to reconsider the launch and ensure that the ballistic missile test would not pose a threat to Japan’s national security.

The missile test comes at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions in the Indo-Pacific region, where China’s expanding military capabilities continue to draw close attention from neighbouring countries and international observers.

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