China rejects US, Russia push for trilateral nuclear disarmament talks

China has described proposals for it to participate in nuclear disarmament negotiations with the United States and Russia as “unreasonable and unrealistic,” according to a statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry on August 27.

Guo Jiakun, a spokesperson for the ministry, made the remarks following U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent comments indicating he had discussed nuclear arms control with Russian President Vladimir Putin and expressed a desire for China to be included in such talks, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

Guo emphasised that “the nuclear forces of China and the United States are not at the same level at all,” noting that the two countries operate under vastly different strategic security environments and nuclear policies. He reiterated that China adheres to a policy of no first use of nuclear weapons and maintains a nuclear strategy strictly for self-defence. Guo added that Beijing has no intention of entering an arms race with any other nation.

“Countries with the largest nuclear arsenals should earnestly fulfil their special priority responsibilities for nuclear disarmament,” he stated.

President Trump, speaking to reporters on August 25 ahead of his meeting with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, said, “One of the things we're trying to do with Russia and with China is denuclearisation, and it's very important. I think the denuclearisation is a very — it's a big aim, but Russia is willing to do it, and I think China is going to be willing to do it too. We can't let nuclear weapons proliferate. We have to stop nuclear weapons. The power is too great.”

Separately, Malaysia’s foreign minister noted last month that China intends to join a Southeast Asian treaty banning nuclear weapons in the region once all necessary documentation is completed.

By Tamilla Hasanova