BEIJING: China announced on Monday that it had successfully carried out a strategic missile test in the Pacific Ocean, following advance notifications to several countries in the region.
According to a statement issued by the Chinese navy, a strategic nuclear submarine belonging to the People’s Liberation Army Navy launched the missile at 12:01 pm on July 6. The missile, fitted with a simulated training warhead, accurately struck its designated target area in the high seas of the Pacific.
Navy spokesperson Wang Xuemeng said the launch was part of a routine training exercise and confirmed the test achieved its intended objectives.
Before the launch, regional governments revealed they had been informed by Beijing about the planned test. Papua New Guinea Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko said the Chinese ambassador personally notified him in advance.
A New Zealand government source also confirmed that Wellington had received prior notice of the planned test, describing it as an intercontinental ballistic missile launch.
Meanwhile, Japan expressed concern over the planned missile test and urged China to cancel it. In a joint government statement issued before the launch, Tokyo said it had strongly requested Beijing to reconsider the test to ensure it would not threaten Japan’s security or pass through its airspace.
