US official claims China rapidly expanding nuclear warhead arsenal
Arms control discussions between the US and Russia concluded Tuesday in Vienna, with both countries walking away from the table with concerns unaddressed.
Iran Press/America: The most contentious element of the discussions involved China, and whether or not the country should be included in any future arms treaties, reported by The Independent.
The US demands China to be included in any future deals. The country was invited to participate in the Vienna talks but declined.
US negotiator Marshall Billingslea suggested Beijing had an "obligation" to participate in the talks.
"It is incumbent on the Chinese upon themselves to recognize that they have an obligation to negotiate with us and the Russians in good faith," he said. "And we intend to hold them to that obligation."
The Trump administration claims China has been testing nuclear weapons and expanding its warhead arsenal in secret.
Billingslea characterized China's arsenal expansion as a "rapid buildup" and said the country sought to achieve "nuclear parity" with the US and Russia.
In April, the US accused China of carrying out underground nuclear weapons tests.
The US and China both entered into the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty in 1996, but neither country actually ratified the agreement. China claims it's adhering to the measures, and the US has had a moratorium on nuclear testing since entering the treaty.
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