US Levels Explosive Accusation Against China Over Secret Nuclear Test
The United States has made a startling accusation against China, alleging that Beijing conducted a secret nuclear test in 2020. This revelation came during a global disarmament conference in Geneva, where Washington called for a new arms control treaty that would include both China and Russia. The timing of these allegations is particularly significant, coming just one day after the expiration of the New START treaty, which had previously limited missile and warhead deployments between the United States and Russia.
Post-New START Era Begins Amid Rising Tensions
With the 2010 New START treaty expiring on Thursday, the world finds itself in a precarious position. For the first time since 1972, there are no binding constraints on strategic missile and warhead deployments between Russia and the United States. This development has created what many experts describe as a dangerous vacuum in global nuclear arms control.
President Donald Trump has made it clear that he wants to replace the expired treaty with a new pact that includes China, which has been rapidly expanding its own nuclear arsenal. In the interim, Washington has announced it will continue modernizing its nuclear forces to maintain what it calls a "robust, credible, and modernized nuclear deterrent."
Detailed Allegations of Secret Testing
Speaking at the disarmament conference in Geneva, US Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Thomas DiNanno made specific allegations against China. "I can reveal that the US government is aware that China has conducted nuclear tests, including preparing for tests with designated yields in the hundreds of tons," DiNanno stated.
He went on to explain that China had employed a technique called 'decoupling' to decrease the effectiveness of seismic monitoring, effectively hiding their activities from international observation. According to DiNanno, China conducted one such "yield-producing test" on June 22, 2020.
China's Firm Rejection and Counter-Accusations
China's ambassador on disarmament, Shen Jian, responded forcefully to the American allegations. He asserted that Beijing has always acted responsibly on nuclear issues and firmly opposes what he called "false narratives" about China's nuclear program.
"China notes that the US continues to hype up the so-called China nuclear threat," Shen said. "It (the US) is the culprit for aggravating the arms race." He reiterated that China would not participate in arms control negotiations at this stage and called on the United States to "abandon Cold War thinking and embrace cooperative security."
Diplomatic Maneuvering and Future Prospects
The diplomatic landscape remains complex. President Trump rejected an offer from Russian President Vladimir Putin to voluntarily extend the caps on strategic nuclear weapons deployments. Meanwhile, Russian and US negotiators discussed the expiration of the strategic arms pact, with the Kremlin indicating that both parties understand the need to start talks as soon as possible.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized the American position, stating, "Russia and China should not expect the US to stand still while they shirk their obligations and expand their nuclear forces." DiNanno added that "a treaty with only one nuclear power is inappropriate in 2026," highlighting the changing global security landscape.
As the world enters this new era without the New START treaty, the accusations and counter-accusations between the United States and China have raised serious concerns about the future of nuclear arms control and global security. The coming months will be crucial in determining whether diplomatic solutions can be found or whether tensions will continue to escalate.
