China has declined to join nuclear arms control talks with the United States following the expiration of the New START treaty between Washington and Russia, saying the conditions for its participation are not yet in place.
Beijing said it regretted the expiry of the treaty, which for years placed limits on deployed strategic nuclear weapons and provided a framework for inspections between the United States and Russia. However, China’s Foreign Ministry stressed that it would not take part in nuclear disarmament negotiations “at this stage,” arguing that its nuclear arsenal is significantly smaller than those of the two Cold War-era rivals.
Chinese officials maintained that the primary responsibility for further nuclear reductions lies with countries possessing the largest stockpiles. They insisted that any future multilateral arms control process must be based on fairness and should not undermine the security interests of other states.
The United States has pushed for a broader nuclear arms control agreement that includes China, warning that the absence of limits following the treaty’s expiration could heighten global security risks. Russia, for its part, has expressed concern over the lapse of the agreement but said it would continue to act responsibly to maintain strategic stability.
With the New START treaty now expired, there are no longer legally binding caps on the strategic nuclear arsenals of the United States and Russia. Analysts say China’s refusal to join talks underscores growing challenges in global arms control and raises fears of a renewed nuclear arms race at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions.
Abuja Network News
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