China ‘happy’ to join nuclear talks if US cuts arsenal to matching level
- Senior Chinese diplomat says Washington’s invitations to US-Russia New START negotiations ‘nothing but a ploy’
- Beijing is ‘not shying away’ from international disarmament process by refusing to participate
A senior Chinese diplomat has challenged the US to cut its nuclear arsenal to China’s level, in response to repeated calls from Washington to join arms control talks between the United States and Russia.
Washington has repeatedly called for China to join in trilateral negotiations to extend New START, a flagship nuclear arms treaty between the US and Russia that is due to expire in February next year.
“I can assure you, if the US says that they are ready to come down to the Chinese level, China would be happy to participate the next day,” Fu said. “But actually, we know that’s not going to happen.”
Fu asserted that, for the United States, asking China to participate in trilateral negotiations was “nothing but a ploy to divert attention” and an excuse for the US to walk away from the New START extension.
“The real purpose is to get rid of all restrictions and have a free hand in seeking military superiority over any adversary, real or imagined,” Fu said.
Fu maintained China was not “shying away from the international nuclear disarmament process” and was prepared to discuss within the framework of the UN Security Council’s five permanent members all issues related to the reduction of nuclear risks.