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China did not test hypersonic nuclear missile, foreign ministry says
China’s Long March-2F Y13 rocket, carrying the Shenzhou-13 spacecraft and three astronauts in the country’s second crewed mission to build its own space station, launches near Gansu province on October 16. Photo: Reuters
China has denied reports that it recently tested a nuclear-capable hypersonic missile, saying it was only carrying out routine test flights in a bid to recycle spacecraft to reduce exploration costs.
“This was a routine test of a space vehicle to verify the technology of their reusability,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told a regular briefing in Beijing on Monday.
The launched object “was not a missile” with a military purpose, but “a space vehicle” for civilian aims, he emphasised.
- China tested a space vehicle for possible reuse, not a nuclear-capable hypersonic missile as reported by the Financial Times, ministry says
- Analysts blame speculations over the ‘China threat’ on a lack of transparency, while playing down chances Beijing will launch nuclear weapons into space
China’s Long March-2F Y13 rocket, carrying the Shenzhou-13 spacecraft and three astronauts in the country’s second crewed mission to build its own space station, launches near Gansu province on October 16. Photo: Reuters
China has denied reports that it recently tested a nuclear-capable hypersonic missile, saying it was only carrying out routine test flights in a bid to recycle spacecraft to reduce exploration costs.
“This was a routine test of a space vehicle to verify the technology of their reusability,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told a regular briefing in Beijing on Monday.
The launched object “was not a missile” with a military purpose, but “a space vehicle” for civilian aims, he emphasised.
‘False’ nuclear missile launch rumour blamed on China’s ‘lack of transparency’
Beijing says it was testing reusable space vehicle, not missile; analysts play down chances China will launch nuclear weapons into space.
www.scmp.com