China has forcefully pushed back against “irresponsible” claims by Donald Trump that it is secretly testing nuclear weapons. Beijing’s foreign ministry reiterated its commitment to global nuclear norms after Trump used the allegations to justify resuming U.S. testing.
The ministry’s spokesperson stated that China is a “responsible nuclear-weapons state” and has always honored its “commitment to suspend nuclear testing.” This was a direct response to Trump’s ‘60 minutes’ interview.
In that interview, Trump claimed, “Russia’s testing, and China’s testing, but they don’t talk about it.” He then declared that the U.S. would “test nuclear weapons like other countries do,” signaling a major policy escalation.
Trump had already announced the order on social media, instructing the “Department of War” to begin testing “immediately.” He claimed the move was necessary to achieve “equal basis” with rivals, who he alleges are testing “way underground.”
This new U.S. posture has raised fears of a new arms race. Trump also boasted of U.S. nuclear might, claiming it has more weapons than any other country and that Russia and China lag behind.