China has launched a strategic ballistic missile into the Pacific Ocean from a nuclear submarine. A U.S. expert indicated the missile was likely a JL-3. While a spokesperson for China's navy described the test as a routine arrangement of military training, the move is seen as the latest step in the country's rapid military modernisation.
This launch marks a departure from Beijing's long-standing practice of testing nuclear missiles only within its own borders. By conducting a rare launch over an ocean, China demonstrates its determination to narrow the military gap with the United States and advance its arsenal for delivering nuclear warheads.
The test has sparked regional concern and condemnation from the United States and its Pacific allies, who viewed the action as a provocation. The U.S. State Department expressed concern that the launch demonstrates China's growing capacity to strike the U.S. mainland. There are fears that this event may signal the beginning of more regular Pacific launches.