BEIJING STRONGLY CONDEMNS WASHINGTON OVER STATEMENT ON BALLISTIC MISSILE LAUNCH

BEIJING, AUGUST 12 /SRNA/ - Chinese Ambassador for Disarmament Li Qijiang strongly rejected the so-called joint statement on ballistic missile launch notifications, which was issued by the US representative at the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva.

Li stressed that China’s legitimate and reasonable modernisation of its national defense is beyond dispute and that China’s goodwill measures, including advance notification of missile tests, should not be subject to geopolitical calculations, China Media Group reported. "China firmly opposes certain countries’ abuse of the Conference on Disarmament platform for political manipulation," Li said, referring to the so-called joint statement, which unfairly accused China of conducting tests of submarine-launched intercontinental ballistic missiles in July. Li stressed that, driven by its own political interests, the United States had lured some countries, including non-members of the Conference on Disarmament, into joining the joint statement and had groundlessly accused China of a goodwill measure — notifying other countries in advance of its missile tests. "This is a typical example of political manipulation and blatant double standards, which China absolutely rejects and firmly opposes," Li said. Li stressed that the accusations made by the US were completely unfounded. “The US side invoked the voluntary political commitment under the Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation, demanding that China provide advance notification of missile launches. However, China is not a member of the Code and is therefore not bound by it,” Li stressed. He said that China has always conducted launches of intercontinental ballistic missiles safely, properly and responsibly, provided advance notification to the United States and other countries, and taken reasonable measures to ensure that the tests do not harm the interests of other countries, fully demonstrating Beijing’s goodwill and responsible approach. "China’s goodwill actions should never be the target of geopolitical calculations," the ambassador said. He reiterated that China has always followed the path of peaceful development, pursued a self-defensive nuclear strategy, maintained its nuclear forces at the minimum level necessary for national security, and refrained from participating in any form of nuclear arms race. "China’s nuclear forces are necessary to deter nuclear war, safeguard world peace and security, and maintain global strategic stability," Li stressed. He stressed that China’s legitimate and reasonable efforts to modernise its national defense are beyond dispute. "China calls on the United States to reflect and do more things that genuinely contribute to world peace and stability," Li said. At yesterday’s conference in Geneva, the United States and other countries issued a "Ballistic Missile Launch Notification" in which they unfairly accused China of conducting tests of submarine-launched intercontinental ballistic missiles in July.