ICBM launch 'legitimate, reasonable', Defense Ministry says

The intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launched by the People's Liberation Army on Wednesday was "fully legitimate and reasonable", a Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman said on Thursday.

On Wednesday, the PLA Rocket Force announced in a brief news release that the ICBM, carrying dummy warheads, lifted off at 8:44 am and hit a designated area in the open waters in the Pacific Ocean.

Zhang Xiaogang, spokesman for the ministry, said in a news conference in Beijing that the launch test was intended to examine the weapon's capability and performance as well as the training level of the troops and was part of the routine training plan.

He stressed that the launch test was "fully legitimate and reasonable".

The spokesman also reiterated China's nuclear policy, saying it has high stability, consistency and predictability.

"We have always adhered to a no-first-use nuclear policy and are committed to a self-defense nuclear strategy," Zhang said.

"We do not engage in an arms race and have clearly pledged not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon states or nuclear-weapon-free zones," he said.

"We maintain our nuclear forces at the minimum level required for national security needs."