United States Worried about China's Ballistic Missile Tests

JAKARTA - The United States on Monday expressed concern over China's test-firing of a long-range ballistic missile from a nuclear-powered submarine.

"At a time when the United States is working harder than ever to prevent nuclear proliferation, China is doing the opposite," the US State Department said in a statement, responding to Monday's launch.

"Beijing's rapid and non-transparent nuclear weapons buildup is of great concern to the region and the world," the statement continued.

Previously, China said it had successfully conducted a missile test in the Pacific, which triggered concerns from Japan and several other countries in the region.

According to China's official Xinhua news agency, a strategic missile carrying a dummy warhead was launched from a People's Liberation Army Navy nuclear submarine into the Pacific Ocean at 12:01 p.m., and landed precisely in the designated waters.

China also informed the Japanese Coast Guard of the possible point of impact of the missile debris in the Sea area, which includes Japan's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the southern Pacific Ocean of the western Wakayama prefecture.

After receiving information from China around 11:30 a.m. about the launch of a ballistic missile, Japan expressed its serious concern about the increase in military activity and demanded "reconsideration" of the firing so as not to threaten Japan's security, the Japanese government said.

Although no damage to Japanese aircraft or ships was reported, Chief Cabinet Secretary Kihara expressed concern over the launch and promised that his country would remain vigilant.

He also criticized China for "continuing to increase its defense spending in large amounts without adequate transparency and expanding its nuclear missile capabilities, including intercontinental ballistic missiles, rapidly and widely."

In addition to Japan, China also informed Australia of the launch test, which Foreign Minister Penny Wong called "a destabilizing act in the region".

Meanwhile, New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters said his country, which had also been informed, was "deeply concerned" about the launch of the nuclear-capable weapon, saying it appeared to be a "repetitive pattern by China" after a test-firing of an intercontinental ballistic missile into the South Pacific in 2024.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning said at a news conference in Beijing that the missile test was a "routine" arrangement of China's annual military training and was carried out "in accordance with international law and practice."

"We hope that the relevant countries will not interpret it excessively," said Mao, noting that the test was not aimed at any particular country.