The U.S. expressed concern after China tested an intercontinental ballistic missile with a dummy warhead that landed in the Pacific Ocean, highlighting Beijing's opaque nuclear buildup and calling for China to engage in arms control talks.
On 7 July 2026, Tommy Picott, spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, said the U.S. government is concerned about China's nuclear weapons development program after Beijing tested an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) with a dummy warhead into the Pacific Ocean. He stated that while the U.S. is pushing to prevent nuclear proliferation, China is moving in the opposite direction. He added that China's rapid and opaque expansion of its nuclear arsenal is worrying for both the region and the global community.
The U.S. State Department also called on China to earnestly participate in arms control negotiations and to establish an official early warning system for all intercontinental missile and space rocket launches.
News reports note that this Chinese missile test follows a previous ICBM launch that landed near French Polynesia two years ago, marking the first missile launch over international waters in more than 40 years.
Analysts view the latest test as evidence of China's increased capability to strike the U.S. mainland. Despite efforts by President Donald Trump's administration to rebuild relations with China, the U.S. continues to regard China as its top strategic competitor.
Meanwhile, weapons tracking experts report that the missile was launched from a nuclear-powered submarine and landed in the sea near the Solomon Islands, a South Pacific island nation that signed a security agreement with China in 2022. Lyle Morris, a senior researcher at the Asia Society Policy Institute, said the test demonstrates China's growing potential to deploy nuclear weapons from sea-based platforms, enhancing its nuclear deterrent's survivability and extending its strike range.