Amid tensions in the East and South China seas, Chinese military officials released a footage showcasing its anti-ballistic missile capabilities.
The 20-seco0nd clip, which was taken from footage of a ballistic missile test conducted in 2010, showed a land-based rocket lifting off from its launch pad. It is then shown flying towards a white target high in the atmosphere, which then exploded upon impact.
According to military expert Xu Chunguang, the earlier tests like3 the one shown in the video helped them solve potential problems that might arrive during actual combat use. A second missile test was conducted in 2013.
It is the first time that footage from the highly classified test was released to the public, The Mirror reported. Some experts believe that the release of the footage is a warning sent to the United States and its allies that the country is ready to defend itself if provoked.
China has heavily criticized the recent announcements made by the US and South Korea about the proposed deployment of the former's Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) missile system in the Korean Peninsula, saying that the system could be used against it.
However, the US and Korea insisted that the anti-missile system is intended mere for defensive purposes and is meant only to thwart any potential missile attack coming from North Korea. Reuters reported. Russia also reportedly expressed its opposition to the deployment of the THAAD.
Nevertheless, China maintained that the development of its own ballistic missile defense system is a vital part of its strategy, as the system will help it keep it at pace with other big powers.