China said it adheres to its international obligations on nuclear weapons after U.S. President Donald Trump said Beijing is one of several powers that have conducted secret testing of them.
Trump has said the U.S. would start testing nuclear weapons again, which would be a serious escalation of the unfolding arms race and a break with decades-old international commitments.
In an interview with “60 Minutes” that aired Sunday, Trump said “we’re going to test nuclear weapons like other countries” and claimed China, Russia, Pakistan, and North Korea were already doing it.
“Russia’s testing, and China’s testing, but they don’t talk about it,” Trump said. “You know, we’re an open society. We’re different. We talk about it.”
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning was asked about Trump’s remarks at a regular press briefing on Monday, November 3.
“As a permanent member of the UN Security Council and a responsible nuclear-weapon state, China has always adhered to the path of peaceful development, upheld the policy of no first use of nuclear weapons, pursued a self-defensive nuclear strategy, and faithfully observed its commitment to suspending nuclear tests,” Mao said, originally in Chinese, state-run China News Service reported.
“We are willing to work together with all parties to safeguard the authority of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) and uphold the international nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime.
“We also hope the U.S. side will earnestly fulfill its obligations under the CTBT and its commitment to suspending nuclear tests, take concrete actions to maintain the international nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime, and preserve global strategic balance and stability.”
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