China Rejects US Criticism of Missile Test, Urges Arms-Control Dialogue

August 13, 2026
By Mintesinot Nigussie

China has rejected criticism from the US and other countries over a recent missile test in the Pacific, accusing them of applying double standards and urging greater dialogue on arms control.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said Wednesday that a joint statement issued by the US and other countries at the Conference on Disarmament, which referred to the Hague Code of Conduct Against Ballistic Missile Proliferation and raised concerns over advance notification of missile tests, was politically motivated.

Guo did not provide further details about the missile test, but the statement was understood to refer to China’s test launch of a submarine-launched ballistic missile in July.

China urged the countries involved to stop what it described as the misuse of multilateral arms-control mechanisms and called for "sincere dialogue" and greater exchanges to improve cooperation in arms control.

The dispute comes amid wider tensions over military activity and strategic stability in the Pacific, with the US and its partners increasingly focused on missile developments in the region.

In separate remarks, Guo said China’s military equipment cooperation with Cambodia and Thailand was normal and did not target any third party or relate to the border dispute between the two countries.

China has maintained communication with both governments and supports an early ceasefire and the resumption of bilateral contacts, Guo said, adding that Beijing was ready to continue playing a constructive role in efforts to resolve the dispute peacefully.

On China-India tensions, Guo said the border situation was "generally stable" following reports of increased Chinese military activity near the disputed frontier.

China and India held their 36th meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on China-India Border Affairs last week. The two sides agreed to maintain communication through diplomatic and military channels and jointly preserve peace and tranquillity in the border areas.

Guo also said China was ready to assist Colombia following a magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck the country on August 10 Beijing time. President Xi Jinping sent condolences to Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella after the disaster, which had killed more than 100 people and injured thousands, according to the briefing.

Source: FSX Business News