Today (August 11), at the Disarmament Negotiations Conference in Geneva, countries including the United States issued a joint statement calling for the publication of ‘ballistic missile launch notifications’. They falsely accused China of conducting a test launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile in July. Li Chijiang, the Chinese ambassador for disarmament affairs, strongly denied this accusation and clarified China’s position.
Ambassador Li Chijiang emphasized that China firmly opposes certain countries using the Conference on Disarmament as a platform for political manipulation. The US, for its own political interests, has induced some countries, including those not members of the Conference on Disarmament, to participate in joint statements. However, the US has been picky and unjustly criticizing China's good intentions regarding the early notification of missile tests, engaging in what can be called “microphone diplomacy.” This is a typical example of political manipulation and blatant double standards. China refuses to accept such practices and stands firmly against them.
Ambassador Li Chijiang stated that the US has no basis for accusations. The US cites the "Non-Proliferation Treaty on land-based ballistic missiles" which requires China to notify the United States of missile tests in advance, but China is not a member of the treaty and is not subject to its restrictions. China conducts missile test launches in a safe, standardized, and responsible manner, providing advance notifications to countries such as the US and taking cautious and reasonable measures to ensure that no harm is caused to any national interests, fully reflecting China's goodwill and responsibility. China's good-will actions should never be misconstrued or manipulated by geopolitical calculations.
Ambassador Li Chijiang stated that the United States has no right to comment on China’s missile testing. To date, China has only conducted three intercontinental missile tests, making it the country with the fewest such tests among the five nuclear powers. The United States is the country that conducts the most and most frequent intercontinental missile tests worldwide. By repeatedly breaking treaties and withdrawing from alliances, investing heavily in nuclear weapon development, and engaging in "nuclear sharing" and "extended deterrence" arrangements, the United States poses a serious threat to international peace and security. The United States fails to fulfill its responsibilities regarding missile testing notifications and thus has no right to criticize China for its well-intentioned actions that are disclosed in advance.
Ambassador Li Chijiang emphasized that China has always adhered to the path of peaceful development, adopted a self-defense nuclear strategy, and maintained its nuclear forces at the lowest level necessary for national security. China does not participate in any form of nuclear arms competition. China's nuclear forces are an indispensable force for deterring nuclear war, maintaining world peace and security, and global strategic stability. China's legitimate and reasonable modernization of its defense efforts is beyond doubt. China urges the US to reflect on itself and do more things that are truly beneficial to world peace and stability.
