China has halted nascent nuclear-arms-control talks with the United States in protest of Washington's arms sales to Taiwan. This move mirrors Moscow's recent stance, further complicating efforts to curb a nuclear arms race. The Chinese Foreign Ministry announced the suspension on Wednesday, citing "serious compromises" to the political atmosphere due to the U.S.'s continuous arms sales to the democratically governed island, which Beijing claims as its territory.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian emphasized the impact of U.S. actions, stating, "The responsibility fully lies with the U.S.," during a regular news briefing in Beijing. Lin added that while China is willing to maintain communication on international arms control, the U.S. must respect China's core interests and create the necessary conditions for dialogue.
The U.S. State Department responded critically, with spokesperson Matthew Miller indicating that China's decision undermines strategic stability and increases the risk of arms-race dynamics. "Unfortunately, by suspending these consultations, China has chosen not to pursue efforts that would manage strategic risks and prevent costly arms races," Miller said, stressing that the U.S. remains open to developing and implementing concrete risk-reduction measures with China.
This development comes just over a month after the Biden administration indicated that the U.S. might have to deploy more strategic nuclear weapons to deter growing threats from China and Russia. U.S. officials have expressed frustration over Beijing's apparent lack of interest in discussing steps to reduce nuclear weapons risks. The U.S. estimates China has 500 operational nuclear warheads, a number expected to surpass 1,000 by 2030.
Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association advocacy group, highlighted the severity of the situation, noting that the U.S., Russia, and China are legally bound as signatories of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty to engage in talks to prevent an arms race. "The only way they can accomplish that is through serious dialogue, and Russia's refusal to do so and China's decision to follow suit are very serious setbacks," Kimball said.
The U.S. currently has a stockpile of about 3,700 nuclear warheads, with roughly 1,419 strategic nuclear warheads deployed. Russia, on the other hand, has about 1,550 nuclear weapons deployed and a stockpile of 4,489 nuclear warheads, according to the Federation of American Scientists.
The halt in talks marks a notable deterioration in U.S.-China relations, which have been strained over various issues, including trade, human rights, and military activity in the South China Sea. The U.S. has been Taiwan's most important international backer and arms supplier, despite the absence of formal diplomatic ties, sparking repeated condemnations from China. Beijing has repeatedly demanded that these arms sales stop, viewing them as a direct challenge to its sovereignty claims over Taiwan.
In recent months, U.S. arms sales to Taiwan have included a $300 million package of spare and repair parts for the island's F-16 fighter jets, further exacerbating tensions. Taiwan has protested increased Chinese military activity near the island, including almost daily missions by Chinese warplanes and warships over the past four years.
