China and the United States at loggerheads over Beijing’s deployment of Intercontinental Ballistic Missile tests

China, through the nation’s People’s Liberation Army Navy recently conducted the test launch of a strategic missile by a submarine and called upon the United States to stop interfering.

The PLA Navy said that one strategic nuclear submarine of the navy launched a strategic missile carrying a dummy warhead toward relevant high seas of the Pacific Ocean, which landed precisely within the designated waters.

The test launch is a routine arrangement of the annual training of the PLA Navy, the navy said, adding that the Chinese side has already notified relevant countries in advance.

  The launching of the test missile, reportedly complies with international law and international practice, and is not directed at any specific country or target, the navy said.

The missile landed precisely within its intended target waters, according to a brief statement from the Chinese People’s Liberation Army.

The launch marked China’s first publicly disclosed submarine-launched ballistic missile test in nearly four decades and the first such test to be made public since September 1988, when Beijing last revealed the flight test of a submarine-based Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM).

As it happens, the United States is not exactly amused with Beijing’s deploying the Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) which is a type of ballistic missile designed to deliver nuclear warheads to targets at extremely long distances, sometimes going beyond 5,500 kilometers.

But China has meanwhile rejected Washington’s criticism of its recent submarine-launched ballistic missile test, with Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning accusing Washington of applying a “double standard.”

Mao said that the United States, as the only country to have used nuclear weapons in war and the operator of the world’s largest and most advanced nuclear arsenal, conducts strategic missile launches from nuclear-powered submarines every year while on the other hand busy criticizing China’s routine missile tests.

The Chinese PLA Navy now deploys two types of submarine-launched Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles, the first being the JL-2, which was declassified in an October 2019 parade, and the second id the JL-3, which was unveiled during a September 2025 parade.

Military analysts said the test represents an important step in strengthening China’s sea-based nuclear deterrent and second-strike capability.

As submarine-launched ballistic missiles are difficult to detect and can be deployed with little warning, they are widely regarded as a critical component of China’s nuclear triad alongside land-based missiles and strategic bombers.

The test also suggests continued progress in the operational readiness of China’s strategic nuclear forces.