US and 40 Allies Call for 24-Hour Advance Notice of Missile Launches
The joint statement followed China's rare ballistic missile test in the Pacific last month, with Beijing accusing Washington of political manipulation.
The joint statement followed China's rare ballistic missile test in the Pacific last month, with Beijing accusing Washington of political manipulation.
The United States and 40 other countries on Tuesday called for mandatory advance notice of at least 24 hours for ballistic missile launches. The joint statement, released by the State Department, came after recent tests in the Pacific region that, according to the signatories, were conducted without customary safety notifications.
Although China was not explicitly named in the statement, it criticized "recent missile testing activity in the Pacific Ocean area." Beijing conducted a rare ballistic missile test in the region last month, raising concerns about potential accidents and military miscalculations.
The statement from the 41 countries emphasizes that launch notifications should include the general class of the missile, the planned launch window, the launch area, and the intended direction. It also calls for issuing warnings to aircraft and ships about expected impact or landing zones.
"Conducting tests of ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear weapons without sufficient prior notice and detail is dangerous," the joint statement reads. The signatories warn that such practices increase the risk of miscalculation and undermine global stability and security.
The authors of the document stress that established and transparent notification mechanisms "do not restrict the military development" of any country. Instead, they "reduce the risk of miscalculation, build confidence, and reflect a shared commitment to security."
China rejected the joint statement. The Chinese ambassador accused Washington of, as he put it, "political manipulation," according to the South China Morning Post. This deepened the rift between Beijing and the US-led group of countries over norms for testing strategic weapons.
The call for launch notification applies to intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), and space launch vehicles. Particular emphasis was placed on states that possess nuclear weapons.
