China announced successful testing of new rockets
China conducted testing of a new rocket in the Bohai Sea, as reported by the Xinhua Chinese News Agency, citing the Ministry of Defense of the PRC.
"The expected result was achieved," says the statement of the Ministry. However, the Ministry of Defense did not specify when exactly the test was conducted.
They also noted that the test was conducted as part of an annual planned exercise. It was conducted with the purpose of developing the skills of the armed forces in order to "cope with threats to national security," the statement says.
In late February, China announced its intention to launch a new medium-class carrier rocket, the Chang Zheng-8, by the end of 2018, as reported by the Chinese newspaper China Daily, citing the project manager, Li Tongyu.
The rocket is designed to launch commercial satellites. According to the project manager, the development of the rocket could take Beijing up to three years. However, with a favorable series of events, the first test launch can be made at the end of 2018.