China has formally declared that it has successfully launched its first intercontinental ballistic missile into the Pacific Ocean. Global concerns regarding China's expanding nuclear capabilities are expected to be sparked by this development. The Chinese Defence Ministry said in a statement that the intercontinental ballistic missile, which was carrying a dummy warhead, was launched by the People's Liberation Army Rocket Force on Wednesday at 8:44 am Beijing time and “fell into expected sea areas.” It further claimed it was a "routine arrangement in our annual training plan" and that it was not aimed at any nation or target.

According to a separate Xinhua report which said that China "informed the countries concerned in advance," but had not specified the missile's exact trajectory or location within the "high seas of the Pacific Ocean." According to Xinhua, the launch "achieved the expected goal and effectively tested the performance of weapons and equipment and the training level of the troops." China has usually carried out these tests within its own airspace, an analyst told AFP.

“This is extremely unusual and likely the first time in decades that we’ve seen a test like this,” Ankit Panda, Stanton Senior Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace stated. “(The test) likely speaks to China’s ongoing nuclear modernisation manifesting in new requirements for testing,” he further added.

The task of modernising China's nuclear forces to thwart advancements like enhanced US missile defences, enhanced surveillance capabilities, and fortified alliances has fallen to the PLA Rocket Force, which is in charge of the nation's conventional and nuclear missiles. The pace of China's nuclear buildup, according to some analysts, surpasses a plausible minimum deterrence. However, Beijing claims to adhere to the "no first use" policy.

The Central Military Commission, led by President Xi Jinping, is the only nuclear command authority, the Chinese military has emphasised. Amid US arms sales to Taiwan, China, which has been repeatedly chastised by the US for the opacity of its nuclear buildup, called off nuclear talks with Washington in July.

China currently possesses more than 500 operational nuclear warheads, of which about 350 are intercontinental ballistic missiles. The Pentagon predicted last year that China will likely have over 1,000 warheads by 2030. According to the Pentagon report, China's military is building hundreds of covert silos for land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles.

This is in contrast to the 1,770 and 1,710 operational warheads that the US and Russia have deployed, respectively. According to the Pentagon, most of Beijing's armaments will most likely be kept at higher readiness levels by 2030.

The launch occurs at a time when Taiwan, a democratically run island that China claims as its own, has been protesting over the last five years about increased military activity by China around the island. According to a statement released by Taiwan's defence ministry on Wednesday, the country had discovered 23 Chinese military aircraft, comprising J-16 fighters and drones, conducting long-range operations in the southeast and east of Taiwan.

The ministry also reported that, although it did not specify the location, it had recently detected "intensive" Chinese missile firing and other drills. According to the ministry, Taiwan has sent its own air and naval forces to maintain vigilance.