The United States on Friday accused China of conducting a secret nuclear test in 2020, amid rising international tensions over arms control. The accusations were made during a disarmament conference in Geneva, just one day after the expiration of a treaty limiting the deployment of nuclear missiles and warheads between the United States, and Russia.
Rising Tensions and Accusations
U.S. Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Thomas DiNanno told attendees that the U.S. Government has evidence China carried out experiments with explosive devices, including preparations for detonations with yields of hundreds of tons. DiNanno detailed that the Chinese military allegedly employed a technique called “decoupling,” which reduces the ability of international seismic monitoring systems to detect nuclear explosions, in an effort to conceal the activity. According to his statement, one such test occurred on June 22, 2020.
The U.S. Official stated that China attempted to hide the nuclear explosions because it recognized these tests would be a violation of international prohibition commitments. DiNanno argued that the revelation underscores the need for a broader arms control treaty, including both China and Russia, considering a bilateral agreement is insufficient given the current landscape where the U.S. Faces threats from multiple nuclear powers.
Differing Responses
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterated, via Substack, the intention to maintain a strong, credible, and modernized nuclear deterrent while exploring avenues for negotiating a new agreement encompassing more actors. Rubio noted, “Russia and China cannot expect the United States to stand idly by while they flout their obligations and expand their nuclear forces.”
China’s ambassador for disarmament, Shen Jian, did not directly respond to the accusations but defended that Beijing has always acted with prudence and responsibility in this area. China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed via social media that the country follows a defensive nuclear policy and maintains its arsenal at the minimum level required for national security. It also reiterated its commitment to a policy of not being the first to use nuclear weapons and not using them against non-nuclear weapon states or in nuclear-weapon-free zones.
Beijing rejected what it called U.S. Exaggerations about the supposed “Chinese nuclear threat” and stated that “the United States is responsible for exacerbating the arms race.” Diplomats at the Geneva conference described the U.S. Accusations as new and concerning.
The Path Forward
The expiration of the 2010 New START treaty has left the United States and Russia without binding restrictions on the deployment of strategic missiles and nuclear warheads for the first time in over half a century. Washington is seeking a future nuclear pact that includes China, which has increased its capabilities in recent years, as part of efforts to avoid a new cycle of international arms racing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the U.S. Accuse China of doing?
The U.S. Accused China of conducting a secret nuclear test in 2020, involving experiments with explosive devices and utilizing a “decoupling” technique to conceal the activity.
When did the New START treaty expire?
The New START treaty, which limited the deployment of nuclear missiles and warheads between the United States and Russia, expired just one day before the U.S. Made its accusations against China.
What is China’s stated nuclear policy?
China states it follows a defensive nuclear policy, maintains its arsenal at the minimum level required for national security, and will not be the first to use nuclear weapons.
As international tensions rise and the landscape of nuclear power shifts, what role will diplomacy play in preventing a new arms race?
