China conducted a historic flight test of its nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile on Monday, marking the first public submarine-launched ICBM test in nearly four decades. According to The Times of India, the nuclear-powered strategic submarine launched the missile carrying a dummy warhead at 12:01 pm from an unidentified sea area, with the warhead precisely hitting the designated target waters in the Pacific Ocean. This represents a significant escalation in China's nuclear capabilities, as the last time China made public the flight test of a submarine-based ICBM was in September 1988, when a Type 09II submarine launched two JL-1 missiles from the Bohai Sea. The JL-1 was constrained by its short operational range and retired from active service many years ago.
The White House has expressed alarm over China's historic test launch, marking a significant escalation in US concerns about Beijing's nuclear capabilities. As reported by The Times of India, this represents a new level of US reaction to China's military activities in the region. Tommy Pigott, spokesperson for the US Department of State, had previously expressed strong concerns about China's test launch, stating that at a time when the United States is working harder than ever to prevent nuclear proliferation, China is doing the opposite. The US spokesman characterized Beijing's rapid and opaque nuclear weapons buildup as of great concern to the region and the world.
The PLA Navy now deploys two types of submarine-launched ICBMs — the JL-2, which was declassified in an October 2019 parade, and the JL-3, which was unveiled during a parade last September. According to observers cited by The Times of India, the JL-2 and JL-3 feature intercontinental hit ranges, a capacity for multiple warheads, and strong penetration capability, promising the Navy reliable assets to deliver a nuclear counterstrike. The PLA Navy now has an unknown number of nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines in the Type 09IV series, with nuclear missiles launched from submarines deep under the sea surface being very difficult to detect and track, and can be used on short notice for sea-based nuclear deterrence and counterstrike operations.
Australia, Japan and New Zealand have voiced concern over China's growing military capabilities following the missile test, according to The Times of India. The test launch has sparked fresh alarm across the Indo-Pacific region, with neighboring countries expressing particular concern about the implications of China's nuclear-capable submarine technology. The missile test comes at a time when regional tensions are already elevated over security issues in the Pacific, with the historic nature of this test amplifying regional concerns about China's strategic posture.
China has maintained that the test was a routine military exercise, with Senior Captain Wang Xuemeng, the Navy's spokesman, stating it was a routine arrangement as part of China's annual military training. As reported by The Times of India, the Navy stated that China has provided prior notification to relevant countries about the test launch and that the test complied with international law and established international practices, and was not targeted at any specific country or target. The Navy has yet to provide more detailed information about the test, including the specific types of submarine and missile involved, the launch and splashdown locations, and the distance flown by the missile, though this position has not prevented regional concerns about the test's significance.
