China fires booster rocket in central-Pacific test

China successfully fired an intercontinental-range rocket into the central Pacific Ocean Sunday, advancing its space research program and adding significantly to its strategic military capability. Diplomatic sources said the success of the test demonstrated that China had the capacity to hit targets in Europe and America with its strategic missile force. A brief statement issued here gave no details of the launching site or the type of rocket tested. Australian officials said the splashdown occurred about 750 nautical miles north-northwest of Fiji.