U.S. Says China Resists Bilateral Talks With U.S. on Nuclear Weapons

U.S. Disarmament Ambassador Robert Wood told a United Nations conference today Tuesday that the Chinese Communist Party is resisting bilateral talks with the United States on nuclear weapons. Washington, for its part, wants to push for a reduction in nuclear weapons holdings.

U.S. Ambassador for Disarmament Robert Wood told a U.N. conference Tuesday that the Chinese Communist Party is resisting bilateral talks with the United States on nuclear weapons, Reuters reported today. According to Wood, “Despite the significant increase in China’s nuclear weapons holdings, they unfortunately continue to resist bilateral talks with the United States on reducing the risk of nuclear weapons,” Wood said, adding that “to date, Beijing has been unwilling to engage meaningfully or hold expert discussions similar to those we have had with Russia. So far, Beijing has been reluctant to engage meaningfully or to hold expert discussions similar to those we have had with Russia. We have high hopes that this will change,” he added.

According to the report, Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Joe Biden will meet to discuss arms control and security issues, and strategic nuclear stability will be among the topics. In response, Wood said Tuesday he hoped such bilateral discussions could lay the groundwork for nuclear weapons reductions and a future arms control agreement.