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Shkruar nga PamfletiBeijing presents the test as a strengthening of its nuclear capabilities, while the US and its allies in the region describe the development as destabilizing.
China has conducted its first test of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launched from a nuclear-powered submarine in the Pacific Ocean. The development is seen as a major demonstration of Beijing's military capabilities and comes as President Xi Jinping seeks to show that the People's Liberation Army remains strong despite recent purges at its helm.
According to Chinese state media, the missile was equipped with an inert warhead, which reproduced the weight, shape and aerodynamic characteristics of a nuclear weapon. Beijing announced that the test was successful and that all planned objectives were achieved.
The state-run Global Times newspaper said the test had “significantly strengthened China’s nuclear triad.” In military terminology, the nuclear triad includes the ability to launch nuclear weapons from land, air and sea.
According to the state-run Xinhua news agency, the test took place on July 6 and countries affected by the missile's trajectory were notified in advance. Chinese authorities stressed that the test was not directed against any specific country.
However, Japan, Australia and New Zealand expressed "grave concern", calling the test a show of force that could increase tensions in the Asia-Pacific region. According to them, Beijing's announcement was made just hours before the launch and did not contain precise coordinates of the missile's trajectory.
According to reports, Chinese authorities avoided publishing full details to avoid giving rival countries time to send observation ships to the area, which could collect data on the missile's technical characteristics.
The United States also reacted to the test. The US State Department called the procedure "irresponsible", stressing that Washington and Moscow follow notification protocols for strategic missile launches, in order to avoid misinterpretations and reduce the risk of escalation.
The US administration also accused Beijing of expanding its nuclear capabilities at a time when the US says it is working to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons.
According to preliminary data, the missile was launched from a maritime area north of Hong Kong and traveled about 7,400 kilometers, passing near the US military base in Guam before falling into the Pacific Ocean, northeast of the Solomon Islands.
Analysts believe it is a missile from the Julang (JL) family, most likely the more advanced JL-3 model, which was publicly unveiled during a military parade in Beijing last year. According to US experts, the JL-3 has a range of about 10,000 kilometers and, if launched from a submarine near the Chinese coast, could hit most of the United States.
Justin Bassi, director of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, told The New York Times that Beijing is sending a clear message about its nuclear power in the Pacific region.
"Essentially, China is showing the world that it possesses a nuclear force with which it can exert influence in the Pacific," he said.
According to US intelligence estimates, China currently possesses 14 nuclear-powered submarines, while the US Navy has about 70. However, military experts estimate that Chinese submarines are still noisier than their American counterparts, making them easier to detect by modern sonar systems.
Unlike China, the United States conducts several tests of its Minuteman and Trident strategic missiles in the Pacific Ocean each year, while Russia conducts similar tests in the Barents Sea. The latest test shows that Beijing is accelerating the modernization of its strategic forces and seeking to strengthen its military role in the Indo-Pacific region.
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