The US State Department has intensified its allegations against China, asserting that an underground nuclear explosive test was conducted by Beijing in June 2020, based on new intelligence. A senior official from the US State Department, Christopher Yeaw, presented these claims during a Hudson Institute event, referencing seismic data that he believes strongly indicates a nuclear test. Yeaw pointed to a minor 2.75 magnitude seismic event detected in Kazakhstan, indicating it occurred near the Lop Nur nuclear testing grounds in China, suggesting it was consistent with the aftermath of a nuclear explosion.

China has categorically rejected the US claims, describing them as "entirely unfounded." Independent experts are also cautioning against jumping to conclusions as they point out that the evidence presented has not conclusively proven that a nuclear test occurred, highlighting the ongoing tensions between the two countries. The allegations come amid broader concerns over nuclear arms control and non-proliferation, issues that are increasingly contentious in US-China relations.

As these accusations unfold, they raise significant implications for global nuclear governance and diplomacy. The claims, if substantiated, could lead to a realignment of security policies in the Asia-Pacific region and intensify the already high stakes of US-China relations. On the contrary, if proven false, it may further undermine the credibility of US intelligence claims on the international stage and diminish its leverage in ongoing nuclear negotiations with Beijing.