US voices concern over China’s intercontinental range missile test
The United States has also called on China to engage in meaningful arms control discussions and inform intercontinental-range ballistic missile and space launches in line with commitments made by the five permanent members of the UN Security Council (China is one of them).
Also read: China’s missile launch attempt in Pacific alarms regional powers
China successfully tested a long-range strategic missile with a dummy warhead from one of its nuclear-powered submarines in the Pacific Ocean on Monday.
“The United States monitored China’s submarine launch attempt of an unarmed intercontinental-range ballistic missile that landed in the southern Pacific Ocean,” US State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said in a statement.
He said that at a time when the United States is working harder than ever to prevent nuclear proliferation, China is doing the exact opposite.
“Beijing’s rapid and opaque build-up of nuclear weapons is of great concern to the region and the world,” Pigott said. “We continue to encourage China to engage in meaningful arms control discussions and to commit to a regular notification arrangement for all intercontinental-range ballistic missile and space launches, consistent with the commitments of all other P5 members,” he said.
“The United States remains steadfast in our defense commitments to our allies and partners,” the spokesman added.
China said the test launch was a routine arrangement of the PLA Navy’s annual training.
The PLA Navy said it had informed relevant countries in advance about the test launch of the long-range strategic missile.
Without specifying the missile and its range, the Navy said the test launch was in compliance with international law and international practices and was not directed at any country or target.
