Speaking about the DF-5C missile, he said that as China's first weapon on active duty that has a global hit coverage, the new type has the most powerful propulsion system and the longest flight range among all Chinese ballistic missiles.

"Like other intercontinental missile models in our nuclear arsenal, the new type is capable of carrying multiple warheads, and some of them can be dummies, which will effectively confuse the enemy's missile defense system and neutralize their interception efforts," Yang stated.

According to Hu Bo, director of Peking University's Center for Maritime Strategy Studies, the JL-3 is the PLA Navy's newest type of submarine-launched intercontinental ballistic missile and boasts a hit accuracy as good as those of the world's best sea-based strategic missiles.

The new ordnance is at the core of the Navy's efforts to catch up with global sea powers in the nuclear deterrence arena and reinforce its nuclear second-strike capabilities, he noted.