US condemns China’s ICBM test launch

Defense US condemns China’s ICBM test launch Comments: by Ellen Mitchell - 07/07/26 4:35 PM ET Comments: Link copied by Ellen Mitchell - 07/07/26 4:35 PM ET Comments: Link copied

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The Trump administration has condemned China’s test launch of an unarmed intercontinental-range ballistic missile (ICBM) from a submarine in the Pacific Ocean on Monday, calling the incident “of great concern.”

“At a time when the United States is working harder than ever to prevent nuclear proliferation, China is doing the opposite,” according to a statement from the State Department. “Beijing’s rapid and opaque nuclear weapons buildup is of great concern to the region and the world.”

China’s rare test drew international scrutiny and condemnation, even as Beijing insisted it was part of routine training and complied with international law as the missile carried a dummy warhead, Chinese state news reported.

Beijing last conducted a missile test in the Pacific two years ago, firing an ICBM in the first such incident since 1980.

The U.S. continues “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,” according to the statement from Washington. “The United States remains steadfast in our defense commitments to our allies and partners.”

Australia, Japan and New Zealand also criticized China’s launch, with Auckland noting it was only informed hours beforehand. The country also said the missile was fired into the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone, established in 1986 with the intention of prohibiting nuclear weapons throughout the region. China in 1987 pledging to follow the protocols and not test nuclear weapons within the zone.

“It appears that despite our long-standing concerns about this type of activity, China carried out the test within hours of informing us,” Foreign Minister Winston Peters told The Associated Press.

And Japan urged China to “rethink” its missile testing.

“China’s military activities, combined with its lack of transparency, have become a grave concern for Japan and the international society,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said in Japan, according to the AP.

But Beijing remains defiant, saying that it hopes countries “will avoid overinterpretation.”