The United States expressed strong concern over China’s recent test of an unarmed intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launched from a submarine into the southern Pacific Ocean. The test, publicly acknowledged by Chinese authorities, demonstrated Beijing’s advancing sea-based strategic missile capabilities, a development the US views as contrary to global nuclear nonproliferation efforts.
A State Department spokesperson highlighted that the United States is actively working to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, while China is expanding its nuclear arsenal at a rapid pace and with limited transparency. The spokesperson called on China to join formal arms control negotiations and establish systematic notification protocols for all long-range missile and space launches, as done by other nuclear powers under the P5 agreement.
Chinese officials confirmed that the missile carried a dummy warhead and landed within a notified designated area, emphasizing the test's controlled nature. However, the move triggered regional unease. Governments across the Indo-Pacific condemned the launch, with New Zealand describing it as an unwelcome development, Australia labeling it destabilizing, and Japan raising alarms over China’s intensifying military activities.
In response, the United States reaffirmed its security commitments to allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific region, underscoring its dedication to regional stability amid rising tensions. The missile test marks a rare and public exhibition of China’s submarine-launched nuclear strike potential, signaling an ongoing shift in the strategic balance of power in the area.