China halts nuclear arms talks with US over Taiwan support

 

China has halted negotiations on nuclear non-proliferation and arms control with the United States in response to Washington's arms sales to Taiwan, a self-governing island that Beijing claims as its territory.

The U.S. described Beijing’s decision as "unfortunate." Analysts warn that this move could significantly hinder global arms-control efforts.

The nuclear weapons discussions between China and the U.S. began in November to alleviate mutual distrust before a summit between Presidents Xi Jinping and Joe Biden. However, no further dialogue had been publicly announced since then. In January, a White House official urged Beijing to respond to "substantive ideas on risk reduction."

A spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated on Wednesday that the U.S.'s arms sales to Taiwan had "seriously compromised the political atmosphere for continuing the arms-control consultations." As a result, China has decided to suspend discussions on a new round of consultations on arms control and non-proliferation, placing the responsibility on the U.S.

The spokesperson added that China remains willing to communicate on international arms control but emphasized that the U.S. must respect China's core interests and create conducive conditions for dialogue.

Since 1979, the U.S. has recognized Beijing over Taipei but remains Taiwan’s key partner and largest arms supplier, which has led to ongoing protests from China. Taiwan has objected to increased Chinese military activity near the island, including frequent missions by Chinese warplanes and warships. In June, Washington approved two military sales to Taiwan worth approximately $300 million, primarily for spare and repair parts for F-16 fighter jets.

U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller criticized China's move, accusing Beijing of mimicking Russia's stance that arms-control engagement cannot proceed amidst other bilateral challenges. Miller argued that this approach undermines strategic stability and heightens the risk of arms races, asserting that the U.S. remains open to risk-reduction measures with China.

The Biden administration supports a policy of "compartmentalization," separating nuclear arms control talks from other contentious issues in Sino-U.S. relations.

China's decision follows a statement from the Biden administration indicating that the U.S. may need to deploy more strategic nuclear weapons to counter growing threats from China and Russia.

Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association, emphasized that the U.S., Russia, and China, as signatories of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty, are legally obliged to engage in talks to prevent an arms race. He warned that China's and Russia's refusals to engage in dialogue are significant setbacks.

The U.S. has a stockpile of about 3,700 nuclear warheads, with roughly 1,419 strategic nuclear warheads deployed. Russia has approximately 1,550 deployed nuclear weapons and a stockpile of 4,489 warheads, according to the Federation of American Scientists. The U.S. estimates that China has 500 operational nuclear warheads, with projections suggesting over 1,000 by 2030.

U.S. officials have expressed frustration over Beijing's reluctance to discuss nuclear risk reduction, while Beijing has argued that the U.S. already possesses a much larger arsenal.