Beijing, July 6 (UNI) China's military test-fired a long-range ballistic missile on Monday from one of its nuclear-powered submarines in the South Pacific.
The missile landed in “designated waters” in the Pacific Ocean, state news agency Xinhua reports, drawing criticism and concerns from Japan, Australia and New Zealand.
The PLA navy test-launched the long-range ballistic missile at 12:01pm (04:01 GMT) on Monday from one of its nuclear-powered submarines in the South Pacific, Xinhua reported.
The launch is something which is a rare demonstration by China of its military capabilities.
The launch marked an unusual show of force in the strategically important South Pacific, a region where the United States, Australia and New Zealand have traditionally been the principal security partners.
The missile test drew swift criticism from regional countries, including Japan, which said it had urged Beijing to reconsider proceeding with the launch.
The missile was launched at 12:01 p.m. on July 6 by a strategic nuclear submarine of the People's Liberation Army Navy. It carried a training simulation warhead and "accurately" landed in a designated area of the high seas in the Pacific Ocean, Xinhua reported citing a statement posted on the Chinese navy's WeChat account.
"This missile test launch is a routine arrangement of China's annual military training, and relevant countries were informed in advance," Chinese navy spokesperson Wang Xuemeng said.
The launch coincided with the start of the annual China-Russia joint naval exercises off Qingdao, a major Chinese naval base on the country's east coast.UNI AAB