U.S. officials say China has refused to negotiate nuclear weapons with the United States. Meanwhile, the United States seeks to promote efforts to reduce nuclear weapons.
U.S. Disarmament Ambassador Robert Wood told a meeting at the United Nations Tuesday (May 18) that “despite the significant increase in the People’s Republic of China’s nuclear weapons holdings, they have unfortunately continued to resist bilateral talks with the United States on reducing the risk of nuclear weapons.”
Wood added: “To date, Beijing has been reluctant to engage meaningfully or to hold expert discussions similar to those we have had with Russia. We sincerely expect that to change.”
Russia and the United States agreed earlier this year to extend the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty for five years, maintaining the last treaty limiting the deployment of the world’s two largest strategic nuclear arsenals.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Joe Biden plan to discuss arms control and security topics as well as the subject of strategic nuclear stability at a meeting.
Wood said he hopes such bilateral discussions will lay the groundwork for nuclear disarmament and a future arms control treaty.
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