China rebuffs US criticism, defends missile test and rule‑based order

China's state news agency Xinhua published an editorial accusing the United States of applying a double standard to international norms, saying “the rules cannot be bent before hegemonic power.” The piece linked the criticism to a recent controversy surrounding the 2026 FIFA World Cup and broader disputes over the World Trade Organization, unilateral tariffs and extraterritorial sanctions, arguing that selective enforcement undermines the credibility of the global order.

In a separate statement, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning rejected US objections to a strategic missile launch from a Chinese nuclear submarine. Mao said Beijing had notified Washington and other nations in advance, that the test was part of an annual training programme, and that it complied with international law and was not aimed at any specific country. She urged the United States to assess China’s defence development objectively and to help preserve strategic stability.