Nuclear Arms Control Hardens Against China, Russian Official Criticizes America's "Double Standards"

[Global Times Special Correspondent in Russia, Xiao Xinxin] In an interview released by Russian media on the 10th, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov stated that the United States intends to draw China into negotiations for a new treaty aimed at replacing the expired New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, or is shifting focus and avoiding the substance of the issue. In contrast, the U.S. has never mentioned involving the UK and France in such negotiations. Lavrov noted that China has repeatedly clarified its position, and Russia respects this.

According to a report by the Russian newspaper "Kommersant" on the 10th, Secretary of the Russian Security Council Shoigu also mentioned in an interview that after the expiration of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, the U.S. proposed to establish a so-called "new framework based on temporary multilateral documents," which "cannot be considered multilateral at all." He added that "the key condition proposed by the U.S. is to have China join the (arms control) negotiations, but it remains silent on the necessity of UK and France's participation."

According to reports from RIA Novosti, the U.S.-Russia New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty expired on the 5th of this month, and it is the only arms control treaty between the two countries since the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty expired in 2019. U.S. media previously reported that Trump stated in January this year that if the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty expired, "then it will expire, and we will reach a better agreement." Trump also mentioned that "we want to involve a few other players," and that China should be included in any future relevant agreements. U.S. Secretary of State Rubio claimed in an article published on the 6th of this month that nuclear arms control is no longer a bilateral issue between the U.S. and Russia, as Trump "clearly pointed out," and that other countries also have a responsibility to help ensure strategic stability, with China being the most important.  

Regarding the U.S. statements mentioned above, the Russian news site "ukraina.ru" reported on the 11th that the U.S. has long attempted to draw China into relevant nuclear arms control negotiations, which is not reasonable. The nuclear capabilities of China and the U.S. are not on the same scale, and China has consistently adhered to a self-defense nuclear strategy, maintaining its nuclear forces at the minimum level required for national security.