Daijiworld Media Network – Washington
Washington, Jul 7: The United States has expressed concern over China's test launch of a nuclear-capable long-range missile and reaffirmed its commitment to the defence of its allies and partners, while urging Beijing to engage in meaningful arms control talks and improve transparency over strategic missile launches.
According to the US Department of State, China on Monday conducted a test launch of an unarmed intercontinental-range ballistic missile with a dummy warhead from one of its nuclear-powered submarines. The missile landed in the southern Pacific Ocean.
"We monitored China's test launch from a submarine of an unarmed intercontinental-range ballistic missile, which landed in the southern Pacific Ocean," State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said in a statement.
Pigott said that while the United States is intensifying efforts to prevent nuclear proliferation, China is moving in the opposite direction through a rapid and opaque expansion of its nuclear arsenal.
"Beijing's rapid and opaque nuclear weapons buildup is of great concern to the region and the world," he said.
The US urged China to hold meaningful arms control discussions and establish a regular notification mechanism for all intercontinental-range ballistic missile and space launches, in line with commitments undertaken by the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, of which China is a member.
Reiterating Washington's strategic commitments, Pigott said the United States remains steadfast in its defence obligations to its allies and partners.
Responding to the criticism, China described the launch as part of the People's Liberation Army Navy's routine annual training programme. Chinese authorities said relevant countries had been informed in advance about the missile test.
The PLA Navy maintained that the launch complied with international law and established international practice and was not aimed at any specific country or target. However, it did not disclose the identity or range of the missile used in the test.