State Department condemns China's ICBM test launch

The State Department this week condemned China for testing the launch of an unarmed intercontinental-range ballistic missile into the Pacific Ocean, stating the incident was of "great concern." 

China conducted the test on Monday and the missile was launched from a submarine in the Pacific. China has defended the launch as part of routine training and said it complied with international law because the missile carried a dummy warhead.

"At a time when the United States is working harder than ever to prevent nuclear proliferation, China is doing the opposite," State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said in a statement. "Beijing’s rapid and opaque nuclear weapons buildup is of great concern to the region and the world. 

"We continue to urge China to engage in meaningful arms control discussions and commit to a regularized notification arrangement for all intercontinental-range ballistic missile and space launches consistent with commitments made by all other P5 members," he added. 

The statement refers to the P5, which are the permanent members of the United Nations' Security Council. The permanent members are the U.S., China, France, Russia and the United Kingdom.

China last conducted a missile test in the Pacific two years ago, firing a different ICBM in the first such incident since 1980, according to The Hill.

Australia, Japan and New Zealand also criticized China’s missile launch, which New Zealand claimed was fired into the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.