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The trust problem with China’s ICBM test
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China’s missile development is a plausible response to the introduction of new military platforms in the region that can reach mainland China.
PHOTO: AFP
BEIJING – China’s rare test of an intercontinental ballistic missile, or ICBM, which was launched into the Pacific Ocean on Sept 25, has sparked concerns among regional countries fearing greater military build-up and the potential for the use of nuclear weapons.
New Zealand, Australia and Fiji have expressed varying degrees of concern, citing the need for transparency, reassurance and respect. These protests come despite a Chinese Defence Ministry statement a few hours after the launch to assuage concerns, chiefly saying that it was a “routine one” not targeted at any country.
