Beijing blasts US-led statement over China's missile test

China blasted a so-called joint statement by the United States and other countries that alluded to China's missile test launch, urging those governments to stop abusing multilateral arms control mechanisms and replace irrational confrontation with sincere dialogue.

The statement made at the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva on Tuesday alleged that recent missile testing activity in the Pacific area did not follow the "standard practices" to provide advance notice, and that relevant countries should implement the Hague Code of Conduct Against Ballistic Missile Proliferation.

It is believed that the joint statement is directed at China's test fire of a submarine-launched ballistic missile in July.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said in an online statement that the so-called joint statement was driven solely by political motives and fully reveals their hypocrisy and double standards.

He urged relevant countries to create conditions necessary for enhancing dialogue and exchanges in the area of arms control.