The Chinese Foreign Ministry announced on Wednesday (July 17) that China has temporarily suspended arms control and non-proliferation negotiations with the United States, citing ongoing U.S. arms sales to Taiwan. The U.S. State Department responded by stating that China’s move is a mimicry of Russia’s actions.
In recent years, China has been developing nuclear weapons unrestrained, causing concern for the United States. The U.S. has been seeking to avoid a destabilizing arms race involving China and Russia. A report by the U.S. Department of Defense last October indicated that China currently has around 500 operational warheads, a number that could exceed 1,000 by 2030.
The U.S. has repeatedly urged China to participate in nuclear arms control negotiations, but Beijing has consistently rejected these calls. In November last year, a rare nuclear arms control negotiation between China and the U.S. was held in Washington.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated in a press conference on Wednesday that the continuous U.S. arms sales to Taiwan have severely disrupted the political atmosphere for further arms control discussions between China and the U.S. As a result, China has decided to suspend talks with the U.S. to hold a new round of arms control and non-proliferation consultations.
Lin Jian further asserted that the responsibility for this situation lies entirely with the U.S.
U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller responded on Wednesday, calling China’s decision unfortunate.
“China chooses to follow Russia’s example, claiming that under other challenging circumstances in the bilateral relationship, arms control contacts cannot proceed,” Miller said.
“We believe that this approach undermines strategic stability and increases the risk of an arms race,” he added. “We continue to strengthen our defense in the Indo-Pacific region with our allies and partners in the face of China’s security threats to them.”
“Unfortunately, while the termination of these talks signals China’s choice to passively manage strategic risks and prevent costly armament races, the U.S. remains open to formulating and implementing specific risk reduction measures with China. However, this requires China to be willing to manage strategic risks.”
In February 2023, on the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Russian President Putin issued a nuclear warning to the West and announced the suspension of the last major nuclear arms control treaty with the U.S. This move was condemned by the U.S. and NATO.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg stated at the time that Russia’s decision to suspend the New START nuclear arms control treaty made the world more dangerous, calling on Moscow to reconsider. The U.S. criticized Putin’s actions as irresponsible.
U.S. State Department spokesperson Miller stated in a press conference on Tuesday that “we have seen further developments in the relationship between China and Russia, not just about revitalizing Russia’s defense industry but also China becoming Russia’s major strategic partner.”
Apart from China’s increased support for Russia intensifying U.S.-China tensions, the Taiwan issue has always been a contentious focal point for the two countries.
Despite the absence of formal diplomatic relations, the U.S. has always been a significant international supporter and arms provider to Taiwan. According to the Taiwan Relations Act and the “Six Assurances,” the U.S. is obligated to ensure Taiwan’s self-defense capabilities.
On June 18, the U.S. government approved a sale of “Attack Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Missile Systems” to Taiwan, including personnel-killing (Switchblade 300) and anti-armor (Altius 600M) capabilities to enhance Taiwan’s defense against current and future threats.
This marks the second arms sale to Taiwan by the U.S. within a month. On June 5, the U.S. announced a $300 million sale of F-16 fighter jet parts and accessories to Taiwan, including both general and specialized equipment and technology for F-16 fighters, as well as logistic support services.
China has condemned the U.S., stating that the American actions seriously harm U.S.-China relations and the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait, and demanding the U.S. to cease arming Taiwan.