China launched an intercontinental ballistic missile ICBM into the Pacific Ocean on Wednesday, just hours after President Biden delivered a speech at the United Nations emphasizing the need for peace and security in the region.
The missile, which carried a dummy warhead, landed without incident and was described by China’s Ministry of Defense as part of the People’s Liberation Army’s Rocket Force routine training exercises.
In his address to the UN, Biden specifically highlighted concerns about China’s growing influence, particularly in regard to military actions in the South China Sea and Taiwan.
He called for responsible management of competition with China to avoid conflict, emphasizing collaboration on issues like stopping the flow of synthetic narcotics.
Biden also reiterated the U.S.’s commitment to push back against military coercion and unfair economic practices.
A U.S. Department of Defense spokesperson confirmed that the U.S. was given advance notice of the missile test by China.
They described the notification as a positive step toward reducing risks of misperception and called it a potential confidence-building measure, hinting at the possibility of formalizing regular bilateral notification agreements for missile launches in the future.
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