The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Rocket Force launches an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) carrying a dummy warhead to the high seas in the Pacific Ocean at 08:44 am on September 25, 2024. Photo: Screenshot from the Weibo account of China Bugle, an official media account of the PLA's news media center

Chinese official media on Thursday released rare video footage on an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launch last year, ahead of the 98th founding anniversary of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) on Friday. An expert said the move highlighted the PLA's strong nuclear deterrence.

The footage, part of an official documentary to be aired in full on Friday, shows the missile ascending after being launched, according to a report by China Bugle, an official media account affiliated with the PLA news media center.

Song Zhongping, a Chinese military affairs expert, told the Global Times on Thursday that the video showing the missile launch is not only for celebrating the PLA's founding anniversary, but also for displaying China's nuclear second-strike capabilities and its strong deterrence.

The PLA Rocket Force launched an ICBM carrying a dummy warhead to the high seas in the Pacific Ocean at 08:44 am on September 25, 2024, and the missile reached expected sea areas, the Chinese Defense Ministry announced in a press release at the time.

The Chinese Defense Ministry said at the time the test launch was a routine arrangement and part of China's annual training plan. 

The test is in line with international law and international practice and is not directed against any country or target, the ministry said.

The launch effectively tested the performance of the weapon and related equipment, Xinhua News Agency reported.

China had informed the relevant countries prior to the launch, according to Xinhua.

The test verified the reliability of the PLA's nuclear arsenal, a crucial component of credible nuclear deterrence, vital to both China's national defense and global peace and stability, according to experts reached by the Global Times.