A big test regarding its intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) was what China did on Wednesday, making it the first openly atmospheric missile test by the nation in 44 years. The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) confirmed that the missile, probably an updated DF-41, was launched successfully with a dummy warhead landing in its pre-designated area within the Pacific Ocean. The Chinese Ministry of National Defense highlighted that tests were conducted as part of routine annual exercises by armament related to PLA’s Space Force and that neighboring countries have been informed in advance.
Equipped with a range of 12,000 to 15,000 km (7,460 to 9,320 miles), China’s most advanced ICBM is the DF-41, which can cover parts of the US mainland. MIRV-capable and likely solid-fueled plus road-mobile, this test gave a visible clue that it might have the potential for multiple warhead delivery. In some ways, this test recall’s China’s 1980 open test of its DF-5 missile; at the time, it was China’s first ICBM.
China has only conducted subterranean or domestic ICBM testing since 1980. Given the escalation of tensions in the Asia-Pacific area, the strategic timing of the open test’s restart is in doubt. The United States has increased its military presence in the region, especially with the installation of the Typhon mid-range missile system in the Philippines. North Korea has also been conducting regular missile tests. China, which saw the Typhon system as a threat, had earlier ordered that it be removed.
The test serves as a potential signal from Beijing to the U.S. and its regional allies. China’s growing nuclear arsenal has been noted globally, with the country’s warheads increasing from 410 in January 2023 to 500 by January 2024, according to the SIPRI Yearbook. By the end of the decade, China could rival the ICBM capabilities of Russia and the U.S.