The United States on Wednesday (July 8) accused China of notifying the U.S. only hours before its test-firing of a submarine-launched strategic missile and providing insufficient details.
According to Reuters, a U.S. State Department official said: "China notified the U.S. only a few hours before the launch and provided insufficient details, falling far short of the standards followed by all the other P5 nuclear weapons states."
The P5 refers to the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council. Under the 1968 Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), these countries are also the only states recognized as nuclear-weapon states.
This official also said: "The timing of this launch comes at a time when China is rapidly and opaquely expanding its nuclear arsenal, raising significant concerns in the region."
This official also said: "The timing of this launch comes at a time when China is rapidly and opaquely expanding its nuclear arsenal, raising significant concerns in the region."
In a statement to Reuters, the official said that launching such a missile, capable of carrying a nuclear warhead, without advance notification through established diplomatic mechanisms, was an irresponsible act.
The official also said, "We urge Beijing to engage in meaningful dialogue on strategic stability and arms control issues," and stated that the United States "remains unwavering in its defense commitments to its allies and partners."
On Monday (the 6th), a Chinese navy strategic nuclear submarine test-fired a submarine-launched strategic missile equipped with a training mock warhead into Pacific waters. This is the first public test-firing of an intercontinental ballistic missile in the Pacific by China in nearly two years and has already drawn criticism from countries such as Japan, Australia, and New Zealand.
The official also said, "We urge Beijing to engage in meaningful dialogue on strategic stability and arms control issues," and stated that the United States "remains unwavering in its defense commitments to its allies and partners."
On Monday (the 6th), a Chinese navy strategic nuclear submarine test-fired a submarine-launched strategic missile equipped with a training mock warhead into Pacific waters. This is the first public test-firing of an intercontinental ballistic missile in the Pacific by China in nearly two years and has already drawn criticism from countries such as Japan, Australia, and New Zealand.
According to Xinhua News Agency, the launch was part of routine annual military training, not aimed at any specific country or target, and notifications had been given to relevant countries in advance.
China's Global Times previously reported that regarding the model of the submarine-launched intercontinental ballistic missile used in this test, military expert Song Zhongping judged that it is highly likely to have been the "Julang-3" missile. The "Julang-3" submarine-launched intercontinental ballistic missile is expected to be officially revealed in the 2025 military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the War of Resistance.