China says hypersonic missile tests not directed at any specific country

The Chinese government has said that scientific experiments conducted by the country are not directed at any specific country.

According to China Daily, the ministry's press office issue the clarification in response to a US media report claiming that China conducted a third test flight of a new hypersonic missile on Dec 2, to develop delivery vehicles capable of defeating US countermeasures.

Li Qinggong, deputy secretary-general of the China Council for National Security Policy Studies, said some people in the US portray such tests as a threat because they find it difficult to acknowledge the narrowing technology gap, or the strengthening of China's overall military capability.

He added that even though China still lagged behind global military powers like the United States in this field, the US was concerned about losing the usual huge advantage of its strike and deterrence capability.