China’s Motive for Launching an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile

In a rare occurrence, China test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile into the Pacific Ocean, escalating tensions in a region of overlapping territorial claims. The missile, part of routine training by the People’s Liberation Army, carried a dummy warhead and landed in a designated area at sea.

Experts view China’s choice of the Pacific for the test as a show of strength and a warning to the U.S. and its allies in the region. The launch also coincides with increasing security tensions with Japan, the Philippines, and Taiwan, which Taiwan’s Defense Ministry is closely monitoring.

China’s military boasts the world’s largest standing army, navy, air force, and a vast array of advanced military technologies. President Xi Jinping’s modernization efforts have significantly strengthened the PLA’s capabilities.

Compared to other countries, China’s nuclear arsenal is growing, with estimates projecting over 1,000 operational warheads by 2030. Missile tests in the region are rare, with North Korea and the U.S. conducting their own tests earlier this year.

This test-firing serves as a bold signal of China’s military might and its willingness to use force if necessary, amidst a backdrop of international tensions.