Pakistan, July 7 -- China has carried out a long-range ballistic missile test from a nuclear-powered submarine into the Pacific Ocean, drawing concern from several countries over its growing military capabilities. Beijing described the launch as a routine military exercise, saying the missile carried a dummy warhead, landed in designated international waters and complied with international law after advance notifications were issued.

Although Chinese authorities did not officially identify the missile, military experts believe it was the JL-3, the country's most advanced submarine-launched ballistic missile. According to a United States defence assessment, the JL-3 has the range to strike the continental United States from Chinese coasta...