[Candor7]

I think the Chinese may have good reason to demonstrate an undectable launch platform.

If it was a sub, its long gone. The Chinese have been playing with the Japan Defence Forces in the same way, they are really stealthy, running up to the 20 mile coastal limit.They have not launched though.

I looked at the CBS video.It was definitely a rocket, the contrail was so thick it indicates that the fuel oxidizer was on board the craft, it was not an air/fuel mix engine.

Also possible it was a USN unauthorized/accidental launch.

[TigersEye]

"My guess is a missile with a leak that had to be launched."

bvw posted this. It is one of the most interesting speculations I have seen. It fits in several ways. It accounts for a very big missile. It accounts for a completely unexpected launch and it very well might be considered too embarrassing to tell the truth about. It would also explain the contradiction between saying no one knows anything about it yet confidently state there is no threat.