That’s a level previously only achieved by US rockets in the past. One US expert believes the Chinese are testing rockets at this level to develop satellite-killing rockets, which would be used to deny an opponent the use of them during a crisis.

“It was a ground-based missile that we believe would be their first test of an interceptor that would be designed to go after a satellite that’s actually on orbit,” said the official, who was not authorized to speak on the record.

The Chinese sent shockwaves through the space community in 2007 when they destroyed one of their decommissioned satellites with a missile.