China launched an intercontinental ballistic missile equipped with a dummy warhead in the Pacific this Wednesday, an unusual exercise that aims to modernize its nuclear program and that provoked criticism from its neighbors.
The test, communicated by the Ministry of Defense, occurs in a context of rivalry with the United States in the Pacific Ocean, tension with the Philippines over sovereignty in the South China Sea and open hostility with Taiwan, an island with a democratic government. that Beijing claims as its own.
The Ministry of Defense, which rarely reports openly on these types of exercises, did not detail the point where the missile landed, nor whether it was fired from land or a submarine.
Intercontinental ballistic missiles are among the most powerful weapons in the world and are capable of delivering devastating nuclear payloads.
New Zealand was quick to declare the shot “untimely and disturbing” and warned that it will consult with its allies as more details become known.
From Japan, government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi said there was no prior warning from China regarding the launch and that Beijing’s strengthening of military capabilities and its lack of transparency are cause for “serious concern.”
In turn, Australia said it had asked for “explanations” from China, whose military strengthening “is occurring without the transparency or guarantees that the region expects from the great powers,” declared a Foreign Ministry spokesperson.
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