US says it, China had 'constructive' arms control talks

[william]

(Reuters) -The United States said on Tuesday it had held constructive talks with China this week on arms control and nonproliferation as part of an effort to keep lines of communication open ahead of a possible meeting of the U.S. and Chinese presidents this month.

One of the top U.S. priorities has been to ensure the intense competition between the world's two largest economies and their disagreements over a host of issues from trade to Taiwan and the South China Sea does not veer into conflict.

"The United States emphasized the importance of increased PRC nuclear transparency and substantive engagement on practical measures to manage and reduce strategic risks across multiple domains, including nuclear and outer space,"

Talking is always better than shooting.

MSN

 

[DEFCON Warning System]

constructive talks

How vague.

 

[william]

China Plays Hardball With US in Nuclear Arms Talks​

Chinese officials were less than forthcoming on Monday when they sat with American counterparts for their first nuclear arms control talks since the Obama administration, A U.S. official said.

"The Chinese delegation did not respond substantively," the unnamed official told Reuters after a consultation between Mallory Stewart, the assistant secretary of state for arms control, and her Beijing counterpart, Sun Xiaobo.

"I wouldn't say we learned anything new from them or that they delved into a great amount of detail regarding their nuclear force," the U.S. official told Reuters.

In an editorial published on Tuesday, China Daily, the state-owned English-language newspaper, said Beijing's reluctance was linked to a U.S. proposal involving Russia.

"Beijing was reluctant to join nuclear arms talks as Washington proposed they be trilateral talks with Moscow also participating," the paper said, in a piece that was republished by the People's Liberation Army's official website.

A yearlong review by a congressional commission recently concluded that the U.S. would face a dual threat of nuclear-armed Russia and China. Its report recommended Washington to increase the pace of nuclear force modernization.

More than one nuclear policy expert believes China has serious concerns about America's willingness to deploy nuclear weapons.

"The renewed U.S. emphasis on low-yield tactical nuclear weapons has further fueled China's apprehension that Washington intends to make its nuclear weapons more usable," Tong Zhao, a senior fellow with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace think tank, wrote in an op-ed published on Monday by Foreign Policy magazine.

Zhao recommended the U.S. put aside its domestic debate about a non-first-use (NFU) policy to hold risk-reduction dialogue with China.

China has maintained an NFU policy for decades and pledged only to use its nuclear weapons to retaliate against an attack by another nuclear-armed state. In contrast, the U.S. has a "calculated ambiguity" policy to give Washington more of a "robust deterrent than an unequivocal rejection of first use," said Zhao.

China plays hardball with us in nuclear arms talks

A former senior official in Washington believes the United States and China should discuss nuclear arms controls.

www.newsweek.com

 

[Friendly Engineer]

As in, the Chinese 'construct' more nuclear weapons?

 

[DEFCON Warning System]

China has maintained an NFU policy for decades

Any country that expresses a No First Use policy when it comes to nuclear weapons is lying.

 

[OReid]

Any country that expresses a No First Use policy when it comes to nuclear weapons is lying.

Oh you are so cynical,
Probably correct but cynical none the less.
I thought nations were supposed to take each other at their word.

 

[Socom7]

I thought nations were supposed to take each other at their word.

Heavens no. Never have; never will.

 

[Ovz]

The talks were so constructive that the Biden Administrators has invited the CCP to visit and tour our Nuclear Test Site. (Republicans demand answers after top Biden official invited CCP leaders to sensitive national security site)!

I can’t think of anything other than an open, in your face , espionage. Forget first strike ambiguities, this little appeasement would hamstring the USA deterrent of mutual destruction without a doubt.

CCP visit + CCP spy balloon + CCP Covid Release + CCP fentanyl = This is an outright TREASONIST act worthy of the death penalty. This makes Jan 6th look like a “Disturbing the Peace” infraction.

 

[Dr Arthur]

Cannnot trust CCP as proven over the years to be corrupt and full of greed. Always two faced, untrustworthy with no honour. Just look at behaviour as actions speak louder than words.

 

[Gaijin]

Cannnot trust CCP as proven over the years to be corrupt and full of greed. Always two faced, untrustworthy with no honour. Just look at behaviour as actions speak louder than words.

As an impartial observer one could say the same about the USA. Or any number of friendly nations for that matter.