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Xinlu Liang

The United States and France have said they were given advance notification of China’s intercontinental ballistic missile test this week while other countries, including Japan, Australia and New Zealand, have asked for an explanation from China.
The US said the warning had helped to “avoid miscalculation” and was “step in the right direction”, but it wanted a more regular arrangement to give advance notice of future missile and space launches.
The People’s Liberation Army launch was China’s first known ICBM test in 44 years. On Thursday, China’s military released images of the missile but did not say what its trajectory had been or where it landed in the Pacific.
However, France has confirmed that it landed near French Polynesia’s exclusive economic zone.
French Polynesia President Moetai Brotherson told Agence France-Presse the missile “fell not far from … the Marquesas Islands” and that Beijing had notified the French authorities before the launch.
Pentagon deputy spokeswoman Sabrina Singh told a press briefing: “We did receive some advance notification of this ICBM test. And we believe that was a good thing. That was a step in the right direction and it does lead to preventing any misperception or miscalculation.”
Singh added the US had also pressed China for “a more regular bilateral notification arrangement when it comes to ballistic missile and space launches”.
“And this is something that we’ve proposed with the PRC [People’s Republic of China] and it represents a common sense, confidence-building measure. So we want to see these types of notifications,” she said.
China’s defence ministry said it had “informed the countries concerned in advance” while the ministry’s spokesman Zhang Xiaogang defended the test as “routine”.
“At present, there is a more stable momentum in the overall and defence relationship between China and the US,” he added.

“The two militaries maintain high-level strategic communication, policy communication, institutionalised dialogues and exchanges in specialised fields.
“These engagements could help enhance mutual understanding, avoid miscalculation, and manage and control risks.”
But the test, which involved a simulated warhead, also prompted concern from some countries in the Asia-Pacific region.
Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa told the Japan News: “We will promptly investigate and analyse the situation and continue vigilant monitoring.”
Japan’s chief cabinet secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said the missile did not pass over Japan and that there were no reports of any damage, according to Kyodo News.
Australia also asked China for an explanation, telling Agence France-Presse: “Australia is concerned by any action that is destabilising and raises the risk of miscalculation in the region, and is consulting regional partners about this launch.”
New Zealand labelled the launch “an unwelcome and concerning development” and a significant worry for regional peace and stability.


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Washington and France say Beijing gave advance notice of this week’s test, which Pentagon says was a ‘step in the right direction’


Washington and France say Beijing gave advance notice of this week’s test, which Pentagon says was a ‘step in the right direction’.


US calls for ‘regular’ missile launch notification process after China’s ICBM test

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Washington and France say Beijing gave advance notice of this week’s test, which Pentagon says was a ‘step in the right direction’

Washington and France say Beijing gave advance notice of this week’s test, which Pentagon says was a ‘step in the right direction’