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US says China gave only hours’ warning before Pacific submarine missile launch

Washington criticised China on Wednesday for providing only a few hours’ notice ahead of its launch of a submarine-fired ballistic missile into the Pacific, saying…

By Samantha Johnson / July 8, 2026
Washington criticised China on Wednesday for providing only a few hours’ notice ahead of its launch of a submarine-fired ballistic missile into the Pacific, saying Beijing’s actions fell short of standards followed by other major nuclear powers.
The US State Department said China failed to provide sufficient information ahead of Sunday’s test, which it said took place amid Beijing’s “rapid and opaque nuclear weapons build-up”.

“We monitored China’s submarine-launched ballistic missile test on July 6, which landed in the southern Pacific Ocean,” a State Department spokesperson told the South China Morning Post.

“The test occurred amid China’s rapid and opaque nuclear weapons build-up and is of great concern to the region.”

The spokesperson said Beijing’s notification to Washington came only hours before the launch and lacked key details expected among established nuclear powers.

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