China slams US "political manipulation" after joint missile test condemnation
2026-08-12 12:07:47ByEvan WilliamsBeijing, China -Chinaangrily responded to the US' jointed statement condemning "dangerous" unannounced missile launches, labeling it "political manipulation" and an exercize. . .
2026-08-12 12:07:47ByEvan WilliamsBeijing, China -Chinaangrily responded to the US' jointed statement condemning "dangerous" unannounced missile launches, labeling it "political manipulation" and an exercize in "double standards. "China shows off its YJ-21 hypersonic anti-ship ballistic missiles during a parade celebrating the 80th anniversary of victory over Japan at the end of World War II. © AFP/Pedro PardoChina's Ambassador for Disarmament Affairs Li Chijiang rejected the joint statement, warning: "Beijing's goodwill in providing advance notification of missile launches should not be hijacked by geopolitical calculations. "According to Chinese state-run tabloid Global Times, Li called the statement "microphone diplomacy" and said it "amounted to political manipulation and blatant double standards that China [will] neither accept nor tolerate. ""China has always conducted intercontinental ballistic missile tests in a safe, standardized and responsible manner," Li said. "Before the latest test, China notified the US and other countries in advance and adopted prudent and reasonable measures to ensure that the launch did not harm the interests of any country. "Li pointed out the US' hypocrisy, explaining that the US has carried out far more intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) tests than Beijing has, and is "in no position to criticize China over missile testing. "The comments came as a response toa thinly-veiled joint statement issued by the US and its allieson Tuesday, including several from Europe and the Indo-Pacific, warning of the dangers of testing ICBMs without providing advance notice. "It increases the risk of miscalculation, undermines global stability and security, and is incompatible with the responsibilities that come with possessing long-range missile capabilities," the statement said. It's believed the statement was meant primarily as a message to Beijing, whichtest-fired an ICBMlast month. "The US has itself failed to properly fulfill responsibilities regarding missile-test notifications and therefore has no grounds to criticize China's voluntary advance notification," Li pointed out. Cover photo: AFP/Pedro PardoMore onChina:Taiwan slams China over major military plans with IndonesiaUS and allies condemn "dangerous" unannounced missile launches in apparent response to ChinaChina slaps steep new tariffs on US and Mexico imports