China has announced the successful launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), which carried a dummy warhead and landed in the Pacific Ocean. The missile was launched at 08:44 local time (04:44 GMT) on Wednesday, with Beijing’s defense ministry describing the test as “routine” and part of its “annual training.” However, the exact type of missile and its flight path remain undisclosed.

Chinese state media stated that relevant countries were informed in advance, though Japan reported receiving “no notice” of the launch. Typically, China conducts its nuclear tests domestically, often in the Xinjiang region’s Taklamakan Desert. This marks the first known instance since 1980 that China has launched an ICBM into international waters.

Experts, such as Ankit Panda from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, noted that China’s classification of the test as routine was unusual, as such tests are neither regular nor annual. Japan’s defense ministry confirmed no damage to its vessels but expressed concern over China’s military movements, pledging to maintain heightened vigilance.

Analysts believe the test sends a strategic signal, especially amid rising tensions between China and neighboring countries like Japan, the Philippines, and Taiwan. US defense expert John Ridge suggested the launch could be a form of “posturing or signalling” toward the United States, as tensions over China’s growing regional assertiveness persist. Despite some improvements in US-China relations, recent incidents involving territorial disputes with the Philippines and Japan have escalated friction.