In a significant blow to global arms control efforts, China has suspended nuclear-arms-control talks with the U.S. This decision, announced Wednesday by the Chinese Foreign Ministry, stems directly from Beijing’s opposition to Washington’s continued arms sales to Taiwan.
China joins Russia in refusing dialogue with U.S.
Consequently, China now joins Russia in refusing dialogue with the U.S. on curbing the nuclear arms race. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian emphatically stated that recent U.S. arms sales to Taiwan have “seriously compromised the political atmosphere” for arms-control consultations.
In response, U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller expressed deep concern, stressing that this approach not only undermines strategic stability but also heightens the risk of an arms race. Nevertheless, Miller affirmed that the U.S. remains open to developing risk-reduction measures with China, despite this setback.
Timing of the decision is crucial
Notably, the timing of China’s decision is particularly crucial, coming just weeks after the Biden administration suggested potentially deploying more strategic nuclear weapons to counter growing threats from Chinese and Russian arsenals. Currently, the U.S. estimates that China possesses 500 operational nuclear warheads, with projections of over 1,000 by 2030.
To put this into perspective, the U.S. maintains a stockpile of about 3,700 nuclear warheads, with 1,419 strategic warheads deployed. Meanwhile, Russia has deployed about 1,550 nuclear weapons and holds a stockpile of 4,489 warheads.
Experts unanimously view this development as a serious setback. For instance, Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association, pointedly remarks that as signatories of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty, the U.S., Russia, and China are legally bound to engage in talks to prevent an arms race.
U.S. remains Taiwan’s primary arms supplier
At the heart of this issue lies Taiwan. Despite lacking formal diplomatic ties, the U.S. remains Taiwan’s primary international supporter and arms supplier. This support has long been a point of contention with China, which staunchly claims Taiwan as its territory.
Furthermore, over the past four years, Taiwan has reported a marked increase in Chinese military activity near the island, including almost daily missions by Chinese warplanes and warships.
As tensions continue to escalate, the suspension of these crucial talks underscores the complex interplay between regional disputes, arms control efforts, and broader U.S.-China relations. Consequently, the international community now watches closely, hoping for a resolution that can pave the way for renewed dialogue and increased global stability.
With inputs from Reuters
