China has ‘massively expanded’ its nuclear arsenal, claims US State Department
South China Morning Post
by Agence France-PresseFebruary 23, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
The United States has accused China of significantly expanding its nuclear arsenal, claiming that Beijing is conducting secret nuclear tests and demanding its inclusion in future arms control treaties. Speaking at the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, US Assistant Secretary of State for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation Christopher Yeaw alleged that China has engaged in an unprecedented, rapid, and opaque buildup of nuclear weapons, potentially achieving parity with other nuclear powers within the next few years. He emphasized that the expiration of New Start, the last major arms control treaty between the US and Russia, presented an opportunity to create a "better agreement" by including China.
In response, Chinese Ambassador to the United Nations Shen Jian rejected these claims, calling them baseless and reiterating Beijing's opposition to the distortion of its nuclear policy. He stressed that China would not engage in any nuclear arms race and criticized the US for constantly misrepresenting China's nuclear stance. While Yeaw did not provide specific details about the alleged tests or China's current arsenal size, he suggested that the lack of transparency in China's nuclear program raises concerns among US officials.
The situation is significant as it highlights the growing tensions over nuclear proliferation and arms control in the international community. The expiration of New Start has left a void in the global framework for managing nuclear weapons, and the US push to involve China underscores the
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Originally published on South China Morning Post on 2/23/2026