China has forcefully defended its record as a “responsible nuclear-weapons state” after Donald Trump accused it of secret testing. Trump used this claim to justify his own ambiguous order for the U.S. to “start testing.”
The Chinese foreign ministry’s sharp denial was a direct response to Trump’s interview, where he claimed China and Russia were testing “way underground.” The spokesperson insisted China “abided by its commitment to suspend nuclear testing.”
Trump’s order, issued via social media, has caused widespread confusion. It is not known if he is calling for computational modeling or a physical detonation, which would break the decades-long U.S. moratorium.
The former president also touted the strength of the U.S. arsenal, claiming it was the world’s largest.
This dispute comes shortly after Russia tested a new nuclear-powered cruise missile, adding to a climate of international tension.