Feb 9 โ€ข 22:02 UTC ๐Ÿ‡ถ๐Ÿ‡ฆ Qatar Al Jazeera

Beijing rejects US accusations of conducting secret nuclear tests

China's Foreign Ministry has denied US allegations of conducting secret nuclear tests, calling them baseless lies.

On Monday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry rejected allegations from the United States that it had conducted secret nuclear tests, branding these claims as completely unfounded and mere lies. The Ministry accused Washington of fabricating excuses to resume its own nuclear testing and called for the US to cease what it termed irresponsible behavior. This reaction came in the wake of comments made by US Assistant Secretary of State Thomas DiNanno during a United Nations disarmament conference in Geneva, where he asserted that China had indeed conducted nuclear tests, some with explosive yields reaching hundreds of tons, while allegedly attempting to obfuscate these activities to minimize seismic detection.

DiNanno highlighted the pressing context of these remarks, citing the expiration of the "New START" treaty between the US and Russia as a catalyst for a renewed call for trilateral negotiations to control nuclear proliferation involving both Russia and China. His statements suggest a growing concern about China's expanding nuclear capabilities and the need for dialogue to prevent an arms race. Thus, amidst these geopolitical tensions, the US is attempting to rally international partners to address what it perceives as a rising threat.

In response, the Russian government expressed regret over the treaty's expiration and acknowledged China's position of not wanting to partake in any forthcoming negotiations. The Kremlin indicated its understanding of Beijing's hesitations, hinting at a complex web of international relations where mutual distrust and differing national security priorities challenge coordinated efforts for nuclear disarmament. This situation illustrates the intricate dynamics of global security, where accusations can escalate tensions and complicate paths to diplomatic solutions.

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