US and 40 Nations Demand 24-Hour Missile Launch Notice

The United States Department of State and 40 other nations, including Australia, Latvia, and New Zealand, issued a joint statement on August 11 demanding that nuclear-weapon states provide at least 24 hours' advance notice before testing intercontinental and submarine-launched ballistic missiles. The initiative follows a July 6 test in which China launched a nuclear-capable submarine-based missile—believed to be a Julang-2 or -3—that flew approximately 4,500 miles over the Pacific Ocean and reportedly landed near Tuvalu.

At a disarmament conference in Geneva, U.S. official Victoria Nibarger characterized Beijing's approach as "confusing and provocative," noting that some countries received only two hours' notice. The joint statement warns that such tests without sufficient notice are dangerous, disrupt regional security, and increase the risk of miscalculation. The Pacific Islands Forum also issued a document calling for missile-launching states to respect the sovereignty of regional nations.

China's Ambassador for Disarmament Affairs, Li Chijiang, rejected the accusations as "political manipulation" and "microphone diplomacy." He argued that China is not a subscribing state to the Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation and is therefore not bound by its notification requirements. Li asserted that China's tests are conducted in a safe and responsible manner, while accusing the United States of double standards due to Washington's own frequent missile testing and withdrawal from international agreements.