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US-China relations
ChinaMilitary

After China’s missile test, US and allies demand 24-hour warning next time

Beijing denounces move as ‘politically motivated’ and urges that ‘countries stop abusing multilateral arms control mechanisms’

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Beijing described the launch of a ballistic missile from a submarine as part of its annual military training and said relevant countries had been notified in advance. Photo: AFP
Gabriel Dominguez
The United States and 40 other nations have called for at least 24 hours’ notice before long-range ballistic missile launches, following a rare Chinese missile test in the Pacific last month that they said raised concerns over accidents and military miscalculation.

In a joint statement released by the US State Department on Tuesday, the governments called on countries – particularly nuclear-weapon states – to provide advance warning for launches of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) and space launch vehicles.

While the statement did not name China, it criticised “recent missile testing activity in the Pacific area” that it said had failed to follow standard notification practices adopted by most states.

Beijing has rejected the statement, with one of its ambassadors accusing Washington of “political manipulation”.

The Chinese foreign ministry on Wednesday denounced the joint statement, with spokesman Guo Jiakun saying the signatories had invoked the Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation to target China’s missile tests.

“This is entirely politically motivated and fully exposes their hypocrisy and double standards,” Guo said in Beijing.

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