China fires back at US over criticism of nuclear-capable missile launch | News. az
A war of words has erupted between the world's two largest military powers after Beijing executed a rare and powerful strategic missile launch from a nuclear-powered submarine. Chinese Foreign Ministry. . .
A war of words has erupted between the world's two largest military powers after Beijing executed a rare and powerful strategic missile launch from a nuclear-powered submarine. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning fired back at American criticism on Thursday, slamming Washington’s reaction as a "typical" display of "double standards and hegemonism. " The fierce rhetorical counter-offensive followed a Pentagon statement expressing "great concern" over China’s rapidly growing and opaque nuclear arsenal,News. Azreports, citingAnadolu Agency. The high-stakes military exercise, which took place on Monday, represents a significant escalation in China's willingness to flex its modern nuclear triad. RECOMMENDED STORIESUS strikes hit bridge on China-Iran rail corridorChina prepares for major AI governance conferenceChina’s research vessels establish strategic foothold in Asia39 killed as floods hit southern ChinaThis marks only the second time China has conducted a high-profile strategic missile test of this nature since its historic September 2024 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launch into the Pacific Ocean—which itself was the first such test the country had conducted since 1980. WhileBeijingclaims it notified several Pacific nations hours before the submarine launch, Washington argued the sudden test highlights a dangerous lack of transparency. The Hypocrisy Debate: Beijing vs. WashingtonIn a fiery press briefing, Mao pointed out what Beijing views as blatant American hypocrisy regarding global weapons testing. "The US is the only country to have actually used nuclear weapons," Mao told reporters. "It sits on the world’s largest and most advanced nuclear arsenal, and launches strategic missiles from nuclear-powered submarines annually. Yet it points fingers at China’s routine missile launch. "The United States has urged China to enter into formal arms control discussions and commit to a permanent, regularized launch-notification system—similar to agreements shared by other permanent members of the UN Security Council. China has firmly rejected the US narrative that the test threatens regional balance. According to the Foreign Ministry, the submarine launch was entirely compliant with international law and served as a routine, pre-planned arrangement to test weapon reliability and effectiveness. Beijing insists the launch was not directed at any specific country. However, as geopolitical friction intensifies across the Indo-Pacific, the exercise sends an undeniable message about China's advancing second-strike nuclear capabilities. News. AzBy Aysel Mammadzada