Hong Kong, July 14 -- On 6 July, a Chinese nuclear-powered submarine launched a ballistic missile - of a type capable of carrying a nuclear warhead - deep into the South Pacific. The event startled nearby nations and confirmed the opaque nature of Chinese military activities.

The event was significant because it was the first time a People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) submarine had ever launched a ballistic missile into open international waters on a flightpath approaching its full range. Indeed, this was China's first public demonstration of a submarine's ability to send a missile so far.

The flightpath of the submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) saw it traveling over the northern Philippines and Luzon Strait. After passing nea...