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India Test-Fires Nuclear-Capable Ballistic Missile After Minor Border Clash With China
[ZH] See? The NORKs aren't the only ones flexing India on Thursday carried out a test launch of a long-range nuclear-capable ballistic missile, Agni-5, which came days after a renewed clash between Indian and Chinese troops along the disputed Himalayan border. Indian Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said the successful launch of Agni-5 from Abdul Kalam Island in eastern Odisha state marked a "historic milestone" for the country’s defense industry. "The missile will add great value to the defense and strengthen national security to a greater extent as it can travel 5400+ plus kilometers," Joshi said on Twitter. The Agni-5 uses a three-stage solid-fueled engine and is capable of striking targets at ranges up to 5,000 kilometers (around 3,100 miles) with "very high degree of accuracy," according to the Indian Ministry of Defense. This was not the first time India test-fired a surface-to-surface Agni-5 ballistic missile. The ministry test-fired one on Oct. 27, 2021, which it said reaffirmed India’s policy to have "credible minimum deterrence" that underpins its commitment to "No First Use." India’s "No First Use" policy stipulates that nuclear weapons will only be used in retaliation against a nuclear attack on Indian territory or Indian forces. Renewed Clashes The recent Agni-5 missile launch came on the heels of fresh tensions between India and the Chinese regime following clashes between their troops along the disputed Himalayan border on Dec. 9. Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said that Indian troops prevented Chinese soldiers from crossing the line of actual control (LAC) at the Tawang Sector in India’s northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh, a territory that China claims as its own. "The Chinese attempt was contested by our troops in a firm and resolute manner," Singh told parliament. The border clash resulted in minor injuries on both sides. Singh said that India’s commander met with his Chinese counterpart following the incident and demanded that Chinese troops "refrain from such actions." This has occurred as a video of an earlier unreported violent brawl between Chinese and Indian troops believed to have taken place in September 2021 in Arunachal Pradesh went viral on social media this week.
Related: Himalaya: 2022-11-13 Appliying Game Theory statistics: Chinese incursions into India are increasing and are strategically planned, study finds Himalaya: 2022-07-21 Russian Perspective: Operation to Denazify Ukraine: Operational Brief July 20th (updated) Himalaya: 2022-07-10 Tributes paid to Kashmiri commander Burhan Wani in AJK Related: Agni-5: 2018-01-18 India Tests Ballistic Missile, Posing New Threat to China Agni-5: 2016-12-27 India Tests Long-Range, Ballistic Nuclear-Capable Missile Agni-5: 2010-02-26 Indian nuclear submarine undergoing sea trials Related: Tawang: 2022-12-14 Indian, Chinese troops clash at Line of Actual Control border in fresh faceoff, biggest clash since 2020 Tawang: 2009-11-09 Defying China, Dalai Lama visits Indian town near border Tawang: 2009-10-25 Dalai Lama an honoured guest, Manmohan tells China Posted by: Frank G 2022-12-17 |
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