No evidence to support US claim China conducted nuclear blast test: Monitor

US Official Accuses China of Conducting Secret Nuclear Tests

A senior US official has made allegations against China at a United Nations disarmament conference in Geneva, Switzerland. Thomas DiNanno, the US Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security, claimed that China conducted nuclear explosive tests in 2020 and concealed activities that violated nuclear test ban treaties.

DiNanno stated that the US government is aware of China’s alleged nuclear testing activities, including preparing for tests with designated yields in the hundreds of tonnes. He also claimed that China sought to conceal its testing by obfuscating the nuclear explosions, as it recognized these tests violate test ban commitments.

The allegations were made just days after a nuclear treaty with Russia expired. DiNanno suggested that new architecture in nuclear weapons control agreements is needed following the expiration of the New START treaty with Russia this week.

However, Robert Floyd, executive secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization, stated that the body’s monitoring system did not detect any event consistent with the characteristics of a nuclear weapon test explosion at the time of the alleged Chinese test. China’s ambassador on nuclear disarmament, Shen Jian, rejected DiNanno’s charge and accused the US of distorting and smearing China’s national defense capabilities.

China has signed but not ratified the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), which bans explosive nuclear tests. Diplomats at the conference expressed concern over the new allegations against China. The US President had previously instructed the US military to prepare for the resumption of nuclear tests, stating that other countries are conducting them without offering details.

The US and China have differing views on nuclear testing and disarmament agreements. While the US has made allegations against China, Beijing has maintained its commitment to a moratorium on nuclear testing.

Source: Al Jazeera