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China says recent test was spacecraft not missile
The Financial Times reported Saturday that Beijing had launched a nuclear-capable missile in August that circled the Earth at low orbit before narrowly missing its target.
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Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian packs up his notes after speaking at the daily media briefing in Beijing on April 8, 2020. (Agence France Presse/Greg Baker)
C
hina on Monday denied a report it had recently launched a hypersonic missile, saying it tested a spacecraft to trial reusable technologies.
The Financial Times reported Saturday that Beijing had launched a nuclear-capable missile in August that circled the Earth at low orbit before narrowly missing its target.
FT sources said the hypersonic missile was carried by a Long March rocket and that the test had been kept under wraps.
But China said Monday the report was inaccurate and the exercise was a test of reusable technology that could reduce the cost of launching spacecraft.
"According to my understanding, this test is a routine spacecraft test, used to test a reusable spacecraft technology," foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told reporters.
"This could provide a convenient and cheap way for humans to use space for peaceful purposes."
When asked directly if the FT report was inaccurate about the missile, Zhao replied "yes".
