Kathmandu— China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Guo Jiakun, criticized a joint statement issued by the United States and several other nations at the Conference on Disarmament, asserting it was motivated by political considerations rather than genuine concerns about arms control. The statement, made on August 11th, referenced recent missile activity in the Pacific region – widely believed to be China’s July test of a submarine-launched ballistic missile – and accused those responsible of failing to adhere to standard notification practices. Beijing responded Wednesday by calling for an end to what it sees as the abuse of multilateral arms control mechanisms.

Joint Statement Sparks Response

According to reports, the US-led joint statement at the Conference on Disarmament alleged that recent missile tests lacked proper advance notice, potentially increasing the risk of miscalculation and undermining regional stability. The statement also called for adherence to the Hague Code of Conduct Against Ballistic Missile Proliferation. China believes this was a direct reference to its own submarine-launched ballistic missile test conducted in July.

China Denounces Hypocrisy

Spokesperson Guo Jiakun characterized the joint statement as driven “solely by political motives,” and indicative of hypocrisy and double standards. He did not specify which countries were exhibiting these traits, but implied they were among those signing the statement. The spokesperson’s comments suggest China views the criticism as a politically charged attempt to undermine its legitimate defense activities.

China has called for dialogue and exchange in arms control rather than confrontation, signaling a desire for improved communication despite ongoing tensions.

(With inputs from Xinhua)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.