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US accuses China of secret nuclear testing, day after offer of arms treaty with Beijing
The allegations highlight tensions between Washington and Beijing, following the expiry of the New Start arms control treaty with Russia
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Mark Magnierin New York
The United States accused China on Friday of failing to disclose a 2020 nuclear test, violating what a US official suggested was an understanding involving a 1996 nuclear test ban treaty that both countries signed but neither ratified.
This came as Washington called this week for a broad new arms-control treaty to include China, Russia and the US after it declined to extend the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (Start), the world’s last binding nuclear arms control agreement. Russia had offered to extend the pact between Washington and Moscow for another year after its expiration on Wednesday.
The Trump administration maintains that New Start has locked the US in an unfavourable position.
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“I can reveal that the US government is aware that China has conducted nuclear explosive tests, including preparing for tests with designated yields in the hundreds of tonnes,” US Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Thomas DiNanno told a Disarmament Conference in Geneva.
02:37
Trump orders US military to resume nuclear weapons tests for first time in 33 years
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DiNanno did not explain why he chose to disclose this now, a day after US President Donald Trump floated the idea of an “improved” three-way deal at some future point, after slamming the just-expired treaty the president said was marred by widespread cheating.
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