The U.S. and China engaged in a heated dispute over China's nuclear power enhancement during a UN disarmament conference, with the U.S. accusing China of conducting secret nuclear experiments, a claim China vehemently refuted.
In a recent exchange at a UN disarmament conference held in Geneva, the U.S. accused China of undertaking secret experiments to develop nuclear weapons, a claim that was promptly dismissed by Chinese officials as baseless. The accusations emerged as the U.S. pressured China to be included in new nuclear arms reduction treaties, asserting the necessity of Chinese participation in addressing global nuclear threats. Chinese representatives portrayed the U.S. claims as an attempt to justify the resumption of its own nuclear testing programs.
The tensions surrounding China’s nuclear capabilities have escalated following the end of the New START treaty between the U.S. and Russia, the only existing nuclear arms reduction agreement. U.S. officials have been increasingly vocal about perceived nuclear developments in China, with particular emphasis on reported nuclear tests carried out in the Xinjiang region in June 2020. Despite the U.S. claims, independent analyses, including a report from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), have failed to find concrete evidence to support the allegations of nuclear testing in the area.
As this dispute unfolds, it underscores the complex dynamics of international nuclear arms control discussions. The U.S. push for including China in nuclear disarmament talks highlights a strategic shift towards multilateral engagement in nuclear arms reduction, while China's firm stance on its nuclear policies and support for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty reflects its commitment to maintaining its nuclear deterrence capabilities. The ongoing back-and-forth threatens to further strain bilateral relations, complicating any future negotiations on nuclear arms control.
