Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian

It was a routine spacecraft experiment to test the technology of spacecraft reusability, China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said on Monday, responding to the Western media hyping of what they claimed China's launch of a "nuclear-capable hypersonic missile" in August.

Zhao made the remarks on Monday during a regular press conference. He was commenting on a Financial Times report that said China launched such a missile which circled the globe before speeding toward its target. The report said the test demonstrated "an advanced space capability that caught US intelligence by surprise."

The report cited "five people familiar with the test" who said the Chinese military launched a rocket that carried a hypersonic glide vehicle which flew through low-orbit space before cruising down toward its target.

Zhao said it was a regular test of the technology of spacecraft reusability, which carries significance to lower the cost of the use of spacecraft, and is expected to offer mankind a new way of affordable and convenient space travel.

Many firms in the world have conducted similar experiments and the separating part of the spacecraft was its accessory part, and it would burn and break up in the atmosphere and the debris would fall into international waters, Zhao said.

China will work with other countries for the peaceful use of space for the benefit of mankind, Zhao noted.

Global Times