China launched a missile into the Pacific Ocean on Wednesday, shortly after President Biden delivered a speech emphasizing the need for security in the region.
The Chinese Ministry of Defense stated that the missile, which had a dummy warhead and was not aimed at any specific target, landed harmlessly in the ocean. The People’s Liberation Army’s Rocket Force described the launch as part of its regular military training exercises.
Earlier that day, Biden addressed the United Nations in New York City, discussing various security issues. He specifically highlighted the threats China poses to Western interests and called for efforts to promote peace.
“We must uphold our principles while managing competition with China to prevent it from escalating into conflict,” he stated. Biden expressed the U.S. readiness to collaborate on urgent challenges that affect people globally, including the recent resumption of cooperation with China to combat the trafficking of synthetic narcotics.
He also addressed the issue of “military coercion,” particularly concerning Taiwan and other countries in the region. “The United States is committed to opposing unfair economic competition and military intimidation in the South China Sea, ensuring stability across the Taiwan Strait, and protecting advanced technologies from misuse against us and our allies,” he asserted.
A spokesperson from the U.S. Department of Defense informed said they had received advance notice of the missile launch. “We monitored the PRC ICBM test launch today and were given some prior notification,” the spokesperson stated.
They noted that this step could help reduce risks of misunderstandings and miscalculations and contribute to a more regular notification process for missile and space launches, which the U.S. has previously proposed to China.
