China has issued a sharp and immediate denial following Donald Trump’s order for the U.S. to resume nuclear testing. The former president justified his directive by claiming it was a response to secret tests by Russia and China, an accusation Beijing forcefully refuted.
A spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry declared that Beijing is a “responsible nuclear-weapons state.” The official stressed that the country has always “abided by its commitment to suspend nuclear testing,” directly contradicting Trump’s claims.
Trump’s allegations were made during a CBS interview, where he said, “Russia’s testing, and China’s testing,” claiming the supposed tests were conducted “way underground” to avoid detection. This claim was the foundation for his directive to “start testing.”
The order itself, posted on social media, has caused significant confusion. It is not known if this refers to computational simulations or if it signals an end to the U.S. moratorium on physical nuclear detonations, which has been observed since 1992.
This international spat comes at a time of heightened nuclear tensions. Trump’s order follows Russia’s recent test of a new nuclear-powered cruise missile, and the former president has also been touting the “unmatched” strength of the U.S. arsenal.
