China's Submarine Missile Test Aims to Establish 'New Normal,' Say US and UK Lawmakers

China's recent test of a submarine-launched ballistic missile in the Western Pacific, coupled with frequent maritime law enforcement expansions, has drawn significant international attention. U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth stated on July 8 at the "2026 Taiwan International Maritime Forum" in Taipei that Beijing's actions are not solely directed at Taiwan but also send a strong message to the U.S., Japan, and South Korea, aiming to establish a new normal that violates international law.

British Member of Parliament Tom Tugendhat, former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Security, echoed these concerns. He described China's military actions as a continuation of its 20-year pattern of expansion and aggression globally, impacting the UK, Europe, the U.S., and worldwide. Tugendhat pointed out that the timing of China's military activities, coinciding with the NATO Ankara summit, was not accidental.

Duckworth criticized China's recent "special law enforcement operations" and gray-zone harassment in waters east of Taiwan. She argued that China is attempting to establish a "new normal" that contradicts the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. Duckworth highlighted that China's ambitions extend beyond maritime domains, including airspace coercion and attempts to negotiate additional access rights to surrounding islands with the Philippines, even unilaterally interpreting jurisdiction over submarine cables.

Both senators urged the international community not to allow China to act with impunity. Duckworth warned that the Taiwan Strait, through which 3% to 5% of global GDP flows, would have a far more severe economic impact if blockaded than the Hormuz Strait crisis. Tugendhat added that China is attempting to reshape the global governance model by asserting actions within its perceived sphere of influence, thereby affecting global policy. He stressed that China's bullying of Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, and Indonesia is aimed at altering how the world responds to Beijing's pressure, emphasizing the importance of this issue for the UK.