(Beijing) China announced on Wednesday that it had suspended talks with the United States on nuclear non-proliferation, with Washington deploring a decision that increases the risk of an “arms race.”
Beijing said the move was in retaliation for Washington’s arms sales to Taiwan.
“The United States has ignored China’s firm opposition […] and taken a series of measures that seriously harm the fundamental interests” of the Asian country, stressed a spokesperson for Chinese diplomacy, Lin Jian, to the press.
“This is why China has decided to suspend negotiations with the United States with a view to a new round of consultations on arms control and nuclear non-proliferation,” said the spokesperson, who was asked about discussions on this subject between Beijing and Washington.
Talks, which were not made public at the time, were held in November between the world’s two leading powers.
The United States has deemed Beijing’s decision “regrettable”, with State Department spokesman Matthew Miller saying that this “approach undermines strategic stability”.
“Regrettably, by suspending these consultations, China has chosen not to pursue efforts that would help manage strategic risks and avoid costly arms races,” the spokesperson said, regretting the fact that China has “chosen to follow Russia’s example.”
He further stressed that the United States had strengthened “the defense of our allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific against Chinese threats to their security.”
In a report requested by the US Congress, the Pentagon estimated in October that China was developing its nuclear arsenal more quickly than the United States had anticipated.
According to estimates by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), the United States has about 3,700 nuclear weapons and Russia 4,500 — compared to 410 for China.
“China is willing to maintain communication with the United States on international arms control issues on the basis of mutual respect,” spokesperson Lin Jian said.
“But the United States must respect China’s core interests and create conditions for dialogue,” he stressed.
Beijing considers Taiwan a province, although it does not control the island territory, which is administered by a democratically elected government.
The Asian giant regularly denounces American arms sales to the island and, more generally, any action by Washington that gives Taiwan a semblance of international legitimacy.
In June, the United States approved two sales of military equipment to Taiwan worth a total of about US$300 million.