China’s submarine-fired ballistic missile test into the southern Pacific on Monday gave its military leadership an opportunity to examine some of the most complex and sensitive operations of its ​evolving nuclear deterrent, analysts and diplomats say. Commanding, controlling and communicating with nuclear-armed submarines attempting to operate undetected pose immense challenges, they say – something felt acutely by a Chinese Communist ‌Party leadership where the military’s political loyalty is paramount. “This aspect is certainly something that would have been very much evaluated, besides looking at the actual technical capabilities of the missile and submarine,” said Collin Koh, a security scholar at Singapore’s S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. “There are still challenges ahead but it would seem they are getting close to an operational strike capability here…they are probably trying to demonstrate that even if they can’t get into a position to hit the continental U.S., they ​could still target Guam and Hawaii.” China’s test firing of the missile armed with a dummy warhead drew criticism from regional powers, with the U.S. saying it was an intercontinental ballistic missile that landed ​in the southern Pacific Ocean.

Full analysis : Missile test showcases sensitive Chinese submarine capabilities key to nuclear deterrent.