On July 9th, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning presided over a regular press conference.
Reuters reporters asked questions regarding China's previous missile test. The US State Department criticized that China informed too late and lacked sufficient details. What is the response of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to this?
Mao Ning said that, as China has repeatedly emphasized, this test launch is part of the annual military training routine. The purpose is to verify the reliability, safety, and effectiveness of the relevant weapon systems. This action complies with international law and practices, and does not target any specific country or objective. China promptly released relevant information and informed the United States and other parties in advance, demonstrating the openness and transparency of the Chinese military.
Mao Ning pointed out that the United States, as the only country in the world that truly uses nuclear weapons, and also possessing the largest and most advanced nuclear arsenal, organizes strategic missile launches from nuclear submarines every year. However, it criticizes China’s normal missile launches and interferes in them. This is a typical example of double standards and hegemonism. The US should view China’s defense and military construction development objectively and rationally, and truly maintain global strategic stability.
At 12:01 on July 6th, a strategic nuclear submarine of the People's Liberation Army Navy successfully launched a submarine-launched strategic missile into the relevant open-sea areas of the Pacific Ocean. The missile carried a training dummy warhead and landed accurately in the designated area.
According to a report by Reuters on July 9th, officials from the US Department of State complained that China only informed the US hours before the launch, and did not provide any detailed information.
Previously, Japan also complained that China officially informed the Japanese embassy in China about the launch approximately 90 minutes before it took place. However, countries like Australia received complete information one day before the launch.
The columnist Chen Feng of Observer Network commented that China's 'differentiated treatment' is quite natural. After Kei Akihiko’s fallacy of 'Taiwan in trouble', mutual trust between China and Japan has dropped to an all-time low. As for the missile test launch, notifying in advance is a duty; not giving one day’s notice means there is no such duty.
