US Demands Missile Launch Warning After China Test

The United States and 40 other nations have called for advance notification of missile launches following China's recent test of a nuclear-capable submarine-based intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). The test, which sent a dummy warhead traveling roughly 4,500 miles over the Pacific, sparked concerns about destabilization in the region.

Both Japan and Australia, as U.S. treaty allies, expressed outrage, emphasizing Beijing's lack of adequate notice. The joint statement, released on Tuesday, noted that recent missile testing in the Pacific did not adhere to standard practices for notifying and coordinating ICBM, submarine-launched ballistic missile, and space launch vehicle tests.

Critics argue that a surprise test with nuclear-capable missiles heightens the risk of miscalculation and called for all countries, especially nuclear-weapon states, to provide at least 24 hours' notice. China's ambassador for disarmament affairs dismissed the criticism, accusing the U.S. of political manipulation and double standards, citing the disparity in the number of ICBM tests conducted by the two nations.

Experts contend that the recent test differs significantly from U.S. practices, as the latter's tests do not traverse the same island routes. The test is seen as an assertion of China's nuclear triad and strategic counter-strike capabilities. U.S. officials have expressed apprehension over China's rapidly expanding nuclear arsenal, which, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, reached at least 600 warheads by early 2025, a stark contrast to China's around 350 warheads in 2020.

Beijing has rejected calls to join nuclear arms-limitation talks, asserting its stockpile is sufficient for defense and significantly lower than that of the U.S. and Russia. Attempts to reach Pentagon and Chinese Foreign Ministry representatives for comment were unsuccessful.