Official announcements or press releases from the U.S. government

China Publicly Acknowledges First ICBM Launch into Pacific Ocean

Sep 25, 2024, 03:02 AM

China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) successfully launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) carrying a dummy warhead into the Pacific Ocean on Wednesday morning. The missile was launched at 8:44 am from Hainan and accurately landed in the predetermined area. The Chinese Defense Ministry stated that the test launch is a routine part of the PLA Rocket Force's annual training and is in line with international laws and practices. The ministry emphasized that the missile launch was not directed at any country or target and that relevant countries were notified in advance. This is the first time China has publicly acknowledged such a launch, which is likely to raise international concerns about the country's nuclear build-up.