China has shown “astounding progress” in weapons technology by testing a nuclear-capable hypersonic missile that circled the Earth, catching US intelligence by surprise.
The Chinese military launched a rocket carrying a
hypersonic glide vehicle in August that flew through low-orbit space before cruising towards its target, which it missed by about 20 miles, according to the
Financial Times.
Hypersonic weapons are difficult to defend against because they fly at lower altitudes and can reach 3,850mph, five times the speed of sound.
Several nations, including the US, China and
Russia, are known to be developing the technology in an intensified and expensive arms race. Last month North Korea said it had tested a
hypersonic missile. Beijing’s hypersonic glide vehicle was said to have been carried by a Long March rocket.
Citing sources briefed on the intelligence, the newspaper said the test “showed that China had made astounding progress on hypersonic weapons and was far more advanced than US officials realised”.
An unnamed official said: “We have no idea how they did this.”
John Kirby, a Pentagon spokesman, said he would not comment on specifics but added: “We have made clear our concerns about the military capabilities
China continues to pursue.”
China claimed today that it had been conducting “a routine spacecraft experiment to test the technology to reuse spacecraft” and suggested that the technology was not intended for military purposes.
Zhao Lijian, a spokesman for the Chinese foreign ministry, said that it was conducting research to reduce the costs of space missions and provide a convenient and affordable way of commuting for humankind to peacefully use space, adding that many countries had conducted similar tests.
He said: “China will work together with all nations in the world to peacefully use space to benefit mankind.”
Zhao added that before the spacecraft returned to Earth its auxiliary equipment would detach and burn in the atmosphere with any debris falling into the East China Sea.
Hu Xijin, editor-in-chief of the
Global Times, a party-run newspaper, wrote: “As China’s economic and technological powers are rising, it’s inevitable that we are closing the gaps with the US in the military technology area and that we may even have overtaken the US in some single items.
“China doesn’t need to engage in an ‘arms race’ with the US. Our normal pace to develop our military powers is enough to erode the advantages the US is so keen to keep against China.
“It’s certain that China will enhance the strength of its nuclear deterrence to ensure that the US will harbour no thought to blackmail China with its nuclear powers at crucial moments.”
Song Zhongping, a Chinese military expert, told the
Global Times that it was a “common ploy” by the US to create rumours and hype over the Chinese threat in order to exert pressure on Congress for more money to develop new weapons.
Song affirmed that China had been developing hypersonic weapons but said it was necessary to frustrate the US policy of containment against China.
“The US is using strategic weapons such as nuclear-powered aircraft carriers to threaten China, so China needs more powerful weapons as a countermeasure,” he added.