October 18, (THEWILL) – China has shut down claims it tested a nuclear-capable hypersonic missile earlier this year, saying it merely carried out a routine spacecraft check.
The government in Beijing rebutted a report in the Financial Times, published on Saturday, alleging a missile launch had taken place in August and prompted concern from the US intelligence community.
China’s foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told a media briefing a routine test had been carried out but this was to verify different types of reusable spacecraft technology.
He said: “This was not a missile, this was a spacecraft. This is of great significance for reducing the cost of spacecraft use.”
Zhao also insisted it was an “inaccurate” report in the Financial Times, which quoted five unnamed sources claiming a hypersonic missile had been launched.
The FT claimed the Chinese military fired off a rocket that carried a hypersonic glide vehicle and flew into low-orbit space before it went down to its target.
It comes amid rising tensions between China and the US where intelligence agencies were reportedly “caught by surprise” over the alleged missile test.
Hypersonic missiles are much faster and more agile than normal ones, meaning they are more difficult to track and intercept.
Last month, North Korea said it had successfully tested a new hypersonic missile.
And in July, Russia made a similar announcement and said its missile had been launched from a frigate in the White Sea.
At least five other countries are among those currently working on hypersonic missile technology.
They can fly at more than five times the speed of sound and, similar to ballistic missiles, can deliver a nuclear warhead.
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