China test-fired an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile
← Back to NewsChina's navy test-fired a submarine-launched strategic missile into the South Pacific on July 6, 2026, its first publicly announced test of a sea-based strategic missile toward the Pacific. Beijing called it a routine, pre-notified annual training exercise that targets no specific country and did not disclose the missile type, though analysts believe it may be the JL-3, with a range of 10,000 km or more. New Zealand, Australia, Japan and the U.S. voiced concern and urged nuclear dialogue, and observers see the launch as a sign of China's maturing sea-based nuclear deterrent and 'nuclear triad.'
Find the full lesson video "中国试射洲际弹道导弹 (Advanced)" including vocabulary, flashcards, grammar, and more, at www.chinesepod.com
潜射 (qián shè) submarine-launched; fired from a submarine
弹头 (dàn tóu) a warhead
射程 (shè chéng) range; the maximum distance a weapon can reach
威慑 (wēi shè) deterrence; cowing an opponent with force or strength
型号 (xíng hào) a model; a product's type designation
削减 (xuē jiǎn) to cut back; to reduce (arms, spending)
条约 (tiáo yuē) a treaty; a formal agreement between states
公海 (gōng hǎi) the high seas; international waters
导弹 (dǎo dàn) a missile; a guided projectile
潜艇 (qián tǐng) a submarine
核武器 (hé wǔ qì) a nuclear weapon
三位一体 (sān wèi yī tǐ) the nuclear triad; lit. three parts, one body (land, sea, and air nuclear forces)
核大国 (hé dà guó) a major nuclear power
潛射 (qián shè) submarine-launched; fired from a submarine
彈頭 (dàn tóu) a warhead
射程 (shè chéng) range; the maximum distance a weapon can reach
威懾 (wēi shè) deterrence; cowing an opponent with force or strength
型號 (xíng hào) a model; a product's type designation
削減 (xuē jiǎn) to cut back; to reduce (arms, spending)
條約 (tiáo yuē) a treaty; a formal agreement between states
公海 (gōng hǎi) the high seas; international waters
導彈 (dǎo dàn) a missile; a guided projectile
潛艇 (qián tǐng) a submarine
核武器 (hé wǔ qì) a nuclear weapon
三位一体 (sān wèi yī tǐ) the nuclear triad; lit. three parts, one body (land, sea, and air nuclear forces)
核大国 (hé dà guó) a major nuclear power
7月6日中午，中国海军一艘核潜艇向太平洋公海成功发射了一枚潜射战略导弹。导弹携带模拟弹头，准确落入预定海域。
这是自2024年9月中国向太平洋试射洲际弹道导弹以来，中国再次公开进行面向太平洋的战略导弹试射，也是中国罕见地公开宣布潜射战略导弹飞向太平洋公海。
中方表示，此次试射是年度军事训练的例行安排，已经事先通报有关国家，符合国际法和国际惯例，不针对任何特定国家和目标。
官方没有公布导弹型号。多名分析人士认为，这枚导弹可能是"巨浪-3"（JL-3）。该型导弹据估计射程可达或超过一万公里，并可能具备携带多个分导式弹头的能力。不过，这些技术细节尚未得到中方官方确认。
尽管如此，新西兰、澳大利亚和日本等国仍对此表示关切，认为试射可能影响地区和平与稳定。美国也呼吁中方就核武器问题展开对话。目前，美俄之间的《新削减战略武器条约》已经到期，而中国从未加入这类美俄双边核裁军条约。
中国专家指出，事先通报是为了避免误解，而且中国长期承诺不首先使用核武器。分析人士也指出，核大国试射战略导弹并不少见，美国和俄罗斯也会定期进行类似试射。
不过，此次试射仍然引发外界关注。它显示中国海基核威慑能力正在发展，也反映出中国由陆、海、空组成的"三位一体"核力量正在进一步完善。未来地区局势和核大国之间的战略沟通，仍值得持续关注。
7月6日中午，中國海軍一艘核潛艇向太平洋公海成功發射了一枚潛射戰略導彈。導彈攜帶模擬彈頭，準確落入預定海域。
這是自2024年9月中國向太平洋試射洲際彈道導彈以來，中國再次公開進行面向太平洋的戰略導彈試射，也是中國罕見地公開宣布潛射戰略導彈飛向太平洋公海。
中方表示，此次試射是年度軍事訓練的例行安排，已經事先通報有關國家，符合國際法和國際慣例，不針對任何特定國家和目標。
官方沒有公布導彈型號。多名分析人士認為，這枚導彈可能是"巨浪-3"（JL-3）。該型導彈據估計射程可達或超過一萬公里，並可能具備攜帶多個分導式彈頭的能力。不過，這些技術細節尚未得到中方官方確認。
儘管如此，新西蘭、澳大利亞和日本等國仍對此表示關切，認為試射可能影響地區和平與穩定。美國也呼籲中方就核武器問題展開對話。目前，美俄之間的《新削減戰略武器條約》已經到期，而中國從未加入這類美俄雙邊核裁軍條約。
中國專家指出，事先通報是為了避免誤解，而且中國長期承諾不首先使用核武器。分析人士也指出，核大國試射戰略導彈並不少見，美國和俄羅斯也會定期進行類似試射。
不過，此次試射仍然引發外界關注。它顯示中國海基核威懾能力正在發展，也反映出中國由陸、海、空組成的"三位一體"核力量正在進一步完善。未來地區局勢和核大國之間的戰略溝通，仍值得持續關注。
At noon on July 6, a Chinese Navy nuclear submarine, in the open waters of the Pacific, successfully launched a submarine-launched strategic missile. The missile carried a simulated warhead and landed precisely in the designated waters.
This is the first time since September 2024 — when China test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile toward the Pacific — that China has again openly conducted a strategic-missile test toward the Pacific, and a rare case of China openly announcing that a submarine-launched strategic missile flew out over the open Pacific.
China says the test was a routine part of its annual military training, that it notified the relevant countries in advance, in line with international law and practice, and targets no specific country or objective.
Officials did not disclose the missile's model. Several analysts believe the missile may be the 'Julang-3' (JL-3), whose range is estimated to reach or exceed 10,000 km, and which may be able to carry multiple independently-targeted warheads (MIRVs). However, these technical details have not been officially confirmed by China.
Even so, New Zealand, Australia, Japan and other countries still voiced concern, saying the test could affect regional peace and stability. The U.S. also urged China to open dialogue on nuclear weapons. For now, the U.S.-Russia New START treaty has expired, and China has never joined such U.S.-Russia bilateral nuclear-disarmament treaties.
Chinese experts note that advance notice is meant to avoid misunderstanding, and that China has long pledged no first use of nuclear weapons. Analysts add that strategic-missile tests by nuclear powers are not uncommon, and that the U.S. and Russia carry out similar tests regularly.
Still, this test drew outside attention. It shows China's sea-based nuclear deterrent is developing, and reflects that China's land-, sea- and air-based 'nuclear triad' is being further refined. Future regional dynamics and strategic communication among nuclear powers remain worth watching closely.
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