The U.S. concerns over China’s nuclear weapons program have intensified as the global arms control framework weakens following the collapse of the New Start treaty, according to international officials and defense analysts.
The United States recently accused China of conducting an undisclosed nuclear test in 2020.
However, the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization said its global monitoring system detected no evidence of a nuclear explosion. China rejected the U.S. claims, calling them exaggerated and politically motivated.
‘China ran secret nuclear test!’: America drops bombshell as US-Russia nuke arms treaty expires ☢️🌍⚠️🧨🛰️https://t.co/Im9l4n1WC7 #China #NuclearTest #USRussia pic.twitter.com/hf4ftSVWXT
— Economic Times (@EconomicTimes) February 7, 2026
The dispute comes after President Donald Trump declined to extend New Start with Russia and urged China to join future arms control talks.
Beijing has refused, arguing its nuclear arsenal is far smaller than those of Washington and Moscow.
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, China has about 600 nuclear warheads, compared with more than 5,000 each for the U.S. and Russia. Beijing maintains it follows a defensive nuclear policy and opposes an arms race.
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TIPP Staff
