China has pushed back against United States accusations that it carried out covert nuclear explosive tests, dismissing the claims as “outright lies” and accusing Washington of laying the groundwork to resume its own nuclear testing programme.
The denial followed remarks by US Under Secretary of State for Arms Control Thomas DiNanno at the UN Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, where he alleged that China had conducted secret nuclear tests, including one on June 22, 2020, and was preparing for further high-yield explosions.
Responding on Monday, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected the claims in a statement to AFP, insisting there was no factual basis for the accusations.
“The US allegations are completely groundless and are outright lies. China firmly opposes the US attempt to fabricate excuses for its own restarting of nuclear tests,” the ministry said.
It further urged Washington to “immediately stop its irresponsible actions.”
The exchange comes amid renewed uncertainty over global arms control following the expiration last Thursday of New START, the final nuclear weapons treaty between the United States and Russia.
DiNanno’s comments were delivered as he unveiled a new US proposal advocating three-way negotiations with Russia and China to establish fresh limits on nuclear arsenals.
Beijing, however, has already ruled out joining such talks “at this stage,” maintaining that its nuclear posture does not warrant inclusion alongside the world’s two largest nuclear powers.
Tensions were further heightened by remarks from US President Donald Trump in October, when he said Washington would begin testing nuclear weapons “on an equal basis” with Moscow and Beijing, without providing details on the scope or timing of any renewed tests.
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