An uncontrolled Chinese missile disintegrates over Malaysia before landing in the Indian Ocean lighting up the night sky (Credit: @nazriacai/Twitter)

The Chinese government said debris from a rocket that launched part of China’s new space station fell into the Philippine Sea on Sunday.

Most of the final stage of the Long March 5B rocket burned up after re-entering the Earth’s atmosphere at 12:55 am, according to China’s manned space agency. The agency had previously said reinforcements would not be allowed.

The statement did not provide details on whether the remaining debris fell on land or in the sea, but said the “landing zone” was 119 degrees east and 9.1 degrees north latitude. Palawan Island, Philippines It is located in the waters southeast of the city of Puerto Princesa, located in .

There was no immediate communication from Philippine authorities as to whether anyone at the scene had been injured.

China has faced criticism for twice causing rocket stages to fall uncontrollably to Earth in the past.

On July 24, 2022, a rocket carrying China's second module for the Tiangong space station was launched from the Wenchang spaceport in southern China. - China launched the second of three modules needed to complete its new space station on July 24, the latest state media reported. A step in Beijing's ambitious space program. (Photo credit: CNS/AFP) / China OUT (Photo credit: -/CNS/AFP via Getty Images)

A rocket with a second module for China’s Tiangong space station will blast off from the Wenchang spaceport on July 24, 2022. (Credit: AFP)

Last year, NASA accused Beijing of failing to meet responsibility standards for handling space debris after some of its rockets landed in the Indian Ocean.

China’s first space station, Tiangong 1, crashed into the Pacific Ocean in 2016 after Beijing claimed it had lost control. The 18-ton rocket went out of control in May 2020.

China also faced criticism after using missiles to destroy one of its decommissioned weather satellites in 2007, creating a debris field that other governments say could threaten other satellites.

China’s most powerful rocket, Long March 5B, was launched on July 24, putting the Vientiane Research Institute into orbit. On Monday, it docked at the Tianhe Prime Module, which houses three astronauts.

The government earlier said the wreckage of another cargo spacecraft used for the station crashed in a predetermined region of the South Pacific after being largely destroyed during re-entry.