China recently tested not a hypersonic missile, but a spacecraft. This was specified by the spokesman of the Foreign Ministry, Zhao Lijian, in response to what was reported yesterday by the Financial Times on a suspected August test that surprised US intelligence.

Zhao Lijian said the incident involved "a routine test of a spacecraft to verify the spacecraft's reusable technology."

The test, according to Beijing, has "great significance in reducing spacecraft costs." And it can provide, Zhao added in the daily briefing, "a convenient and economical way to use space peacefully."

According to the Financial TImes, the launch would instead concern the “Long March” rocket , which would travel at five times the speed of sound, a real flagship of Xi Jinping's arsenal.

Also according to the Financial Times, the missile was launched into orbit by the Chinese armed forces in August, making a complete tour of the Earth and missing only about thirty kilometers from the target placed inside a military base in the desert.

(Unioneonline / vl)

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