US ‘cannot defend’ against China’s hypersonic missile
AMERICA cannot defend against hypersonic missiles, an official warned, after China allegedly tested new weaponry.
Robert Wood, America’s disarmament ambassador, said Washington was “very concerned” after a report suggested Beijing had secretly tested a nuclear-capable hypersonic missile that went around the globe in August.
Hypersonic missiles, like traditional ballistic missiles, can fly more than five times the speed of sound but are more manoeuvrable, making them harder to track.
US intelligence officials were alarmed by the launch because they had been unaware of Beijing’s rapid progress in the area, according to the Financial Times which first reported on the test.
Ambassador Wood said the US had “held back” from pursuing military applications for hypersonic technology but with China and Russia actively pursuing its use “we are just having to respond in kind”.
Beijing yesterday denied it was testing a weapons system, saying the launch involved a new spacecraft.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said it was of “great significance for reducing the use-cost of spacecraft and could provide a convenient and affordable way to make a round trip for mankind’s peaceful use of space”.
Boris Johnson’s spokesman said: “We have seen what has been reported. We will keep a close watch on this development but it is important that those with these capabilities behave responsibly.”
Asked if the Government accepted Beijing’s explanation, the Prime Minister’s spokesman said: “At this stage I am not able to pass judgment on that.”
According to the Financial Times, the Chinese military launched a rocket carrying a hypersonic glide vehicle into space, which flew around the globe through low-orbit space before returning to Earth in August.
The missile reportedly missed its target by about 25 miles, but showed that China has progressed much further than US officials had realised.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki declined to comment on the missile launch yesterday but stressed that the US had made clear to China its concern about its military development.