China Launches SLBM to the Pacific Ocean

The Xinhua News of China reported that China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy conducted a test of launching submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM) on July 6th. Some of the missiles reached South Pacific Ocean, causing speculation that the test was demonstration of China’s military capability to strike mainland of the United States. The government of Japan continues to assess China’s missile capability. 

The missiles are supposed to be Ju Lang (Big Wave)-3 type of SLBM, which has a range with distance of 10 thousand kilometers. China set four areas for touchdown of tested missiles, which included eastern sea area of the Philippines and east of Papua New Guinea. Japan’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) at the south of Cape Shionomisaki, Wakayama, is also designated as the area.

 

The government of Japan received a notice from China a few hours before the missile launch. China explained that it set zones for falling space debris. It could be the information about dropping of boosters, detached from the missiles. The missiles did not fly over Japan’s territory. There was no damage on aircrafts or ships of Japan by the tested missiles.

 

The government of Japan announced basic concern on China’s action. “These military developments of China became serious concerns of our country and international society, along with lack of transparency of Chinese military,” said Chief Cabinet Secretary, Minoru Kihara in his press conference. Japanese government expressed its serious concern on growingly active military activities by China.

 

The test is recognized as a message of China toward the United States. The test demonstrated China’s capability of launching submarine-launched ballistic missiles from coastal area of China to U.S. mainland. China has been enhancing capability of SLBM, which is installed in nuclear-powered submarines. It proves China’s intention of enabling strikes from undetectable submarines. China is developing nuclear capability of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM), SLBM and strategic bombers.

 

Experts in Japan assess China’s missile test as showing its intention to deny any support for Taiwan in a contingency. Although Chinese President Xi Jinping talked about nuclear disarmament with U.S. President Donald Trump in their meeting at Beijing in May, China showed unchanged determination for seeking its own interest in Taiwan issue. It is likely that China is reflecting its missile capability to the outer seas.

 

China has been putting pressure on Japan, since Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi referred to Japan’s possible use of force in a contingency around Taiwan last November. China is also making diplomatic effort to label Japan as going toward new militarism. On the other hand, Japan is promoting production and exporting military equipment in the context of investment for economic growth. It is possible that arms race between China and Japan may raise tension in Asia-Pacific region.

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