China hypersonic missile test a 'surprise'

China has tested a nuclear-capable hypersonic missile, showing a capability that reportedly caught US intelligence by surprise. A report in the Financial Times yesterday said the military in August launched a rocket with a hypersonic glide vehicle that flew through low-orbit space, circling Earth before cruising toward its target, which it missed by about 38 kilometers. “The test showed China had made astounding progress on hypersonic weapons and was far more advanced than US officials realized,” the report said. Beijing did not respond to a request for comment on the claim, but there was a reaction from Washington. Pentagon spokesman…