US Accuses China of Secret Nuclear Tests

The United States has accused China of conducting secret nuclear tests in 2020, using 'decoupling' to conceal these activities, and is pushing for a new, broader arms control treaty that includes both China and Russia. This accusation comes shortly after the expiration of the 2010 New START treaty, which previously limited strategic missile and warhead deployments between the United States and Russia. China has vehemently denied the allegations and refused to participate in trilateral negotiations, citing its significantly smaller nuclear arsenal compared to the United States and Russia. The United States projects that China will possess over 1,000 nuclear warheads by 2030. Russia, while open to dialogue with the United States, insists on including NATO nuclear allies, the United Kingdom and France, in any new negotiations. This situation marks a critical moment for global arms control, raising concerns about an escalating arms race and increased geopolitical instability.