China on August 4 vowed to retaliate if the United States persisted with “hostile action” against Chinese journalists who may be forced to leave in coming days if their US visas are not extended. China expresses it’s concern over Chinese journalists not being granted a visa extension since the United States, on May 11, limited their stay to 90 days, with an option to extend.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin told reporters that United States' actions might force China to take necessary and legitimate steps to safeguard it's rights. Wang didn’t mention how many journalists were affected but the editor of Chinese Global Times newspaper said that US journalist based in Hong Kong might have to bear the brunt of this retaliation and will be forced to leave china. “If that’s the case, Chinese side will retaliate, including targeting US journalists based in HK.” The Global Times is published by the People’s Daily the official newspaper of China's ruling Communist Party.

Tensions further escalated as The People's Liberation Rocket Force fired two missiles – a DF-26 and a DF-16 – during a recent exercise, the official Chinese military news website 81.cn reported on Tuesday. It did not give an exact date for the tests. “We are in a highly alert state for combat, to ensure our actions are prompt and precise,” Liu Yang, the commander of the brigade that carried out the tests.

Meanwhile, the US Air Force Global Strike Command said it launched an unarmed intercontinental ballistic missile on Tuesday morning. The missile, fitted with three re-entry vehicles – which in wartime could be replaced with nuclear warheads – flew more than 6,000km from a base in California before splashing down at a US testing range in the Marshall Islands in the Pacific Ocean.

Despite the prevailing tension between Washington and Beijing, the US Air Force dismissed suggestions the missile launches were linked. “The launch calendars are built three to five years in advance, and planning for each individual launch begins six months to a year before launch,” it said. “This launch is not related to any events in the world at this time.”