China Conditions Nuclear Talks on Drastic US Stockpile Reductions
Says US would need to come down to China's level for arsenal
Jason Ditz
China confirmed on Wednesday that they would be happy to join trilateral nuclear arms limitation talks with the US and Russia, but would only do so if the US drastically cut its nuclear stockpile to be in-line with China.
The existing New START is set to expire, and the US has held up talks with Russia on extending it by demanding China also be included. China’s arsenal is so much smaller, however, that few see any obvious need, and view it as a US ploy to delay things.
The US and Russia each have around 6,000 nuclear warheads. China, by contrast, has only about 320. This makes China virtually immaterial in global arms limitations, nor could any mutual cuts make a dent in the US arsenal.
US officials have yet to say why they want China involved in the talks, but its clear they won’t agree to the cuts China is talking about.
The existing New START is set to expire, and the US has held up talks with Russia on extending it by demanding China also be included. China’s arsenal is so much smaller, however, that few see any obvious need, and view it as a US ploy to delay things.
The US and Russia each have around 6,000 nuclear warheads. China, by contrast, has only about 320. This makes China virtually immaterial in global arms limitations, nor could any mutual cuts make a dent in the US arsenal.
US officials have yet to say why they want China involved in the talks, but its clear they won’t agree to the cuts China is talking about.
posted by Satish Sharma at
09:49
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