Chinese Representative: The U.S. Accusations Against China's Nuclear Explosion Tests Have No Factual Basis

On February 11, Xinhua News Agency reported from Vienna (reporters Yu Tao and Meng Fanyu) that on the 11th, Li Song, the representative of China to the United Nations Office at Vienna and other international organizations, firmly refuted the United States' accusations regarding China's conduct of nuclear explosion tests during a media interview.

Li Song stated that U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Dinenno recently accused China of having conducted a nuclear explosion test in June 2020 during the disarmament negotiations in Geneva. In response, Floyd, the Executive Secretary of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization, immediately issued a statement, clearly indicating that the organization did not monitor any events consistent with the characteristics of a nuclear explosion test on the day claimed by the U.S. This fully proves that the U.S. accusations against China are baseless. The U.S. actions are extremely irresponsible, have ulterior motives, and attempt to fabricate excuses for its own resumption of nuclear testing, which China firmly opposes.

Li Song mentioned that he met with Floyd on the 10th, firmly refuting the U.S. unfounded accusations and reiterating China's solemn commitment and strong support for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. China is one of the earliest signatories of the treaty and has consistently supported its aims and objectives. Since announcing a moratorium on nuclear testing in 1996, China has always honored its commitments and has never engaged in any activities that violate the treaty, steadfastly maintaining the international consensus on nuclear prohibition, which has received high recognition from the international community.

Li Song pointed out that as a country with a large nuclear arsenal, the U.S. should fulfill its special and priority responsibilities for nuclear disarmament, which is a long-standing consensus of the international community. The U.S. continues to distort and smear China's nuclear policy, which is essentially a political maneuver by the U.S. to seek nuclear hegemony and evade its nuclear disarmament responsibilities. The U.S. is the biggest source of disruption to the international nuclear order and global strategic stability.

Li Song emphasized that China urges the U.S. to reaffirm the "moratorium on nuclear testing" commitment of the five nuclear-armed states, to uphold the global consensus on banning nuclear tests, and to take practical actions to maintain the international nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation system. China has always adhered to the path of peaceful development, pursued a self-defense nuclear strategy, and maintained long-term stability in its nuclear policy. China will continue to play a constructive role in maintaining international peace and security.