United States Monitors China's Ballistic Missile Test in the Pacific Ocean

Tokyo (ANTARA) - The United States (US) stated that the test of a ballistic missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead from a Chinese submarine represents a ‘deeply concerning’ development for the Asian region and the world. Responding to the test conducted approximately 20 hours earlier, the US Department of State issued a statement on Monday (6/7) urging China to curb the pace of its nuclear weapons proliferation and reaffirming Washington’s commitment to the defence of its allies. ‘Beijing’s rapid and opaque acceleration of its nuclear weapons development is deeply concerning for the region and the world,’ the US Department of State statement read. According to the Chinese military and state media, the country’s navy successfully launched a strategic missile carrying a dummy warhead from a nuclear-powered submarine into open waters in the Pacific Ocean on Monday. The US Department of State stated it monitored the intercontinental ballistic missile, which did not carry a live warhead, until it landed in the southern Pacific Ocean. Washington also called on China to engage in more meaningful arms control discussions and commit to implementing a regular notification mechanism for missile and space vehicle launches. According to the US, such a commitment has already been undertaken by other permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, namely the United Kingdom, France, Russia, and the United States. The US statement adds to the list of countries expressing concern over the launch, following earlier criticism from Australia, Japan, and several other nations. This response comes as US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are attempting to stabilise bilateral relations amid ongoing geopolitical rivalry. Following Trump’s visit to Beijing in mid-May, Xi is scheduled to make a state visit to the United States, with both leaders agreeing to meet at the White House on 24 September. The US Department of State did not clarify whether Washington had received prior notification before the missile launch. Previously, the Chinese government stated the test was a routine part of annual navy military exercises and was not directed at any specific country. China also asserted that the missile landed precisely within the designated waters and that the entire test was conducted in accordance with international law. Meanwhile, the Global Times newspaper, published by the People’s Daily, the official media of the Chinese Communist Party, ran an editorial titled ‘The Stronger China’s Strategic Nuclear Power, the More Guaranteed Regional Peace.’ The media outlet stated that China’s nuclear capability had reached an important milestone and noted that a similar test was last conducted in 2024. The new missile is said to have a range of more than 10,000 kilometres, enabling it to reach parts of the continental United States if launched from China’s coastal waters. Lyle Morris, a former US defence official and now a senior fellow at the Center for China Analysis at the Asia Society Policy Institute, assessed the test as a significant development in China’s nuclear capabilities. ‘A test with this range is a major development and shows that China is building a more survivable and longer-range sea-based nuclear deterrent capability,’ Morris said. He estimated the missile landed in the northeastern region of the Solomon Islands.