The Kremlin dismisses US accusations of secret nuclear tests by Russia and China, backing Beijing’s denial and highlighting arms control concerns.
MOSCOW: The Kremlin has firmly denied that either Russia or China have conducted secret nuclear tests. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated the allegations, recently levelled by the United States, are unfounded.
“We’ve heard many references to certain tests. Both the Russian Federation and China have been mentioned in this regard. Neither the Russian Federation nor China has conducted any nuclear tests,” Peskov told reporters.
He added that Beijing had already categorically denied the US accusations. The US had this month accused China of conducting a secret nuclear test in 2020.
READ MORE: NATO urges nuclear restraint as last US-Russia treaty ends
Washington is pushing for a new, broader arms control treaty to replace the New START pact. That agreement, the last major US-Russian nuclear arms control treaty, expired on February 5.
US President Donald Trump is pressing China to join the US and Russia in negotiating a replacement. The expiration of New START has raised concerns among some experts about a potential accelerated nuclear arms race.
Other arms control experts, however, believe such fears are exaggerated.
