China Refuses to Join Talks on New Nuke Deal With Russia, US Proposed by Trump

© AFP 2023 / MARK RALSTONThe Chinese flag is seen in front of a view of the moon at Tiananmen Square in Beijing on December 13, 2013
The Chinese flag is seen in front of a view of the moon at Tiananmen Square in Beijing on December 13, 2013 - Sputnik International
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BEIJING (Sputnik) - China will not become part of any talks on a new trilateral nuclear arrangement with Russia and the United States, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said Monday.

"China opposes any incidents of anybody speaking on China's behalf and will not participate in any talks on a trilateral agreement on nuclear disarmament", spokesman Geng Shuang said."

US President Donald Trump told reporters on Friday that he would soon launch bilateral talks with Russia on a new nuclear arms control deal that could see both sides reduce their arsenals, adding that the negotiations could eventually be expanded to include China.

In April, the US president indicated his intention to negotiate a major nuclear arms control deal with Russia and China, saying such a treaty should include "all the weapons, all the warheads, all the missiles" in the countries' respective arsenals.    

The Kremlin welcomed Washington's move and asked to provide details about the proposal.

READ MORE: Russia Ready to Extend New START, But Future of Treaty in Doubt — Antonov

The tensions between Russia and the United States were exacerbated by President Donald Trump's February announcement that the US would be unilaterally withdrawing from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, citing alleged violations by Russia. Moscow has repeatedly denied the allegations, pointing out that the US was the party actually violating the treaty.

Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump in Helsinki. File photo - Sputnik International
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The INF Treaty was signed in 1987 by then-leader of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev and then-US President Ronald Reagan. The leaders agreed to destroy all cruise or ground-launched ballistic missiles with ranges between 500 and 5,500 kilometres (310 and 3,400 miles).    

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov previously stated that the INF's collapse could cast a shadow over the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty's (New START) extension.

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