China successfully conducted on Monday a flight test of its nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile, or ICBM, from a nuclear-powered strategic submarine, marking the farthest such trial of any Chinese naval missile to date.
During the historic trial launch, which is the first to be made public in nearly four decades, a nuclear-powered strategic submarine operated by the People's Liberation Army Navy launched the long-range missile carrying a dummy warhead from an undisclosed sea area at 12:01 pm.
The dummy warhead "precisely hit the designated target waters in the Pacific Ocean", the PLA Navy spokesman Senior Captain Wang Xuemeng said in a brief statement.
The missile test was "a routine arrangement as part of China's annual military training", he said, noting that prior notification in this regard was provided to relevant countries. Wang added that the test complied with international law and established international practices, and was not aimed at any specific country or target.
The PLA Navy has yet to release more details about the test, such as the specific type of submarine and missile involved in the operation, the launch and hit locations of the missile, and the distance covered by the missile.
The last time China made public the flight test of a submarine-based ballistic missile was in September 1988, when a Type 09II submarine — the nation's first class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine — launched two JL-1 nuclear-capable missiles from the Bohai Sea.
The JL-1 was constrained by its short operational range, and it served as a symbol of the PLA Navy's possession of nuclear capability rather than a usable deterrent. It was retired from active service many years ago.
The PLA Navy currently deploys two types of submarine-based ICBMs — the JL-2, which was declassified in an October 2019 parade, and the JL-3, which was unveiled during a parade in September.
According to observers, the JL-2 and the JL-3 feature intercontinental hit ranges, multiple warhead capacity and a strong penetration capability, promising reliable assets to deliver nuclear counterstrikes.
The PLA Navy also has an unknown number of nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines in the Type 09IV series.
Nuclear missiles launched from deep-sea submarines are very difficult to detect and track, and can be used on short notice, so they are tasked with realizing sea-based nuclear deterrence and counterstrikes.
Song Zhongping, a retired PLA Rocket Force officer and military affairs commentator, said that submarine-based strategic missiles constitute the sea-launch leg of China's nuclear triad and form the backbone of the nation's second-strike nuclear counterattack capability.
"The successful test of the submarine-based ballistic missile demonstrates that China owns a formidable tool to counter nuclear blackmail," Song said. "Two years ago, we had tested a land-based ICBM. The latest trial launch, together with the earlier one, has confirmed that our nuclear counterattack platforms are mature and reliable, lending greater deterrence to China's nuclear triad."
Responding to questions on the missile flight test at a news briefing in Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said the whole process was carried out in a safe, standardized and professional manner. "We hope relevant countries will not read too much into it," she said.