China halts US nuclear arms control talks over Taiwan support
China has announced that it has suspended negotiations with the United States over nuclear arms control in protest against the U.S. sale of weapons to Taiwan.
On Wednesday, Lin Jian, spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told reporters that recent U.S. arms sales to Taiwan have “seriously jeopardized the political atmosphere for continuing serious negotiations on arms control.”
Lin Jian added, “China has decided to suspend dialogue with the United States in the new round of negotiations on arms control and non-proliferation. The complete responsibility lies with the United States.”
Lin emphasized that China is willing to maintain communication on international arms control but stressed that the U.S. “must respect China’s core interests and create necessary conditions for dialogue and exchange of views.”
In response, Matthew Miller, spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, accused China of following Russia’s lead. According to him, China insists that dialogue on arms control cannot continue despite other challenges in bilateral relations.
According to analysts, China’s decision represents a potentially serious setback for global efforts towards nuclear arms control.
Taiwan is independently and democratically governed, but China considers it part of its territory.
Earlier, Russia had also withdrawn from talks with the United States on nuclear arms control.
These talks aim to pave the way for setting aside competition over the production of nuclear weapons among major powers.
Mr. Miller added, “We believe this approach undermines strategic stability and increases the dynamic risks of an arms race.”
He expressed regret that China has decided not to pursue efforts to manage strategic risks and prevent costly arms competition but noted that the United States remains ready for discussions to reduce risks.
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