China has dismissed US accusations that it carried out covert nuclear explosive tests, describing the claims as false and accusing Washington of seeking justification to resume its own testing programme.
The denial followed remarks made on Friday at the UN Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, where US Under Secretary of State for Arms Control Thomas DiNanno alleged that China had conducted secret tests, including one in June 2020, and was preparing for additional high-yield trials.
In a statement issued Monday, China’s foreign ministry said the allegations were “completely groundless” and amounted to fabrication. Beijing said it strongly opposed what it described as attempts by the United States to create a pretext for restarting nuclear testing and urged Washington to halt what it called irresponsible behaviour.
Former US President Donald Trump had said in October that the United States would pursue nuclear testing on an “equal basis” with Russia and China, though he did not provide details about the scope or form of any such programme.
DiNanno’s comments came as he outlined a new US proposal advocating trilateral talks with Russia and China aimed at establishing fresh limits on nuclear arsenals following the expiration of New START, the last remaining arms control treaty between Washington and Moscow, which lapsed last week.
China has previously ruled out participation in new disarmament negotiations for now, maintaining its long-standing position that it is not prepared to join such talks at the current stage.
