Defense ministry confirms missile test

China’s Ministry of National Defense (MOD) confirmed late on May 9 that the PLA (People’s Liberation Army) Rocket Force recently conducted a missile test with the aim of enhancing the military’s capability to fend off threats to national security.

In a statement, the MOD’s information bureau said that the PLA Rocket Force “conducted a test for a new-type missile in the waters of the Bohai Sea and the result had met the expectations.” The MOD also said the missile test was “part of the PLA’s annual training program.”

But the MOD did not elaborate on which “new-type missile” was tested or for what specific purpose the missile test was conducted.

However, there is wide speculation that the missile test was the PLA’s latest response to the deployment of THAAD (Terminal High Attitude Area Defense) system in South Korea.

In the latest MOD press briefing on April 27, the MOD’s spokesperson Senior Colonel Yang Yujun reaffirmed the Chinese military’s opposition against joint deployment of the THAAD by the United States and South Korea.

Yang said that the PLA would continue with its “real battle-oriented exercises” and “tests of new weapons” to safeguard China’s national safety and regional peace and stability.