US says China gave insufficient notice for missile test

Key facts

• China provided only a few hours' notice and insufficient detail for a July 6 ballistic missile test.
• The US State Department criticized the notification as inadequate and irresponsible.
• The missile was launched from a nuclear-powered submarine into the Pacific.
• The launch drew criticism from the US, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and Taiwan.
• China described the test as a routine military training arrangement.

A State Department official stated that China provided insufficient detail and only a few hours' notice before a ballistic missile test conducted on July 6. The official characterized the notification as inadequate and irresponsible, falling short of standards adopted by other P5 nuclear weapon states. The test, involving China's most advanced submarine-launched missile, occurred amid concerns about Beijing's rapid and opaque nuclear weapons buildup. The US urged Beijing to engage in meaningful discussions on strategic stability and arms control, reaffirming its defense commitments to allies and partners. China's Xinhua news agency described the launch as a routine arrangement of annual military training. The launch drew criticism from the US, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and Taiwan.