India said Wednesday it has successfully launched a nuclear-capable intermediate-range ballistic missile designed to reach targets across China.
The Agni-5 missile was successfully launched in India's eastern Odisha state, with authorities saying it "validated all operational and technical parameters."
India and China, the world's two most populous nations, are intense rivals competing for influence across South Asia and relations plummeted in 2020 after a deadly border clash.
India is also part of the Quad security alliance with the United States, Australia and Japan, which is seen as a counter to China.
India's bitter rival Pakistan has nuclear weapons as well and the two countries came close to war in May after 26 people were killed in Indian-administered Kashmir, an attack New Delhi blamed on Islamabad. But Pakistan denied any involvement.
