A series of groundbreaking meetings on nuclear arms control involving representatives from the US, Russia, and China has begun in Geneva. The Washington administration has officially accused Beijing of drastically increasing its nuclear potential, which, according to US intelligence, could lead to achieving parity with the largest superpowers within the next few years. These talks aim to integrate China into the system of international treaties limiting arms, which has so far been based primarily on US-Russian relations.
Rapid Arsenal Growth
The US claims that China possesses 600 warheads and is aiming for nuclear parity with Washington and Moscow within 5 years.
Nuclear Summit in Geneva
The US delegation first met with the Russians and then with Chinese representatives to discuss arms control.
New Silos and Tests
American intelligence has released information about the construction of new missile silos and suspicious activities at Chinese bases.
Pressure for Transparency
Washington demands that Beijing disclose the scale of its armaments and join the limits imposed by international treaties.
The diplomatic marathon in Geneva has shed new light on the rapid transformation of China's military power. Representatives from the US State Department presented evidence that China currently possesses approximately 600 nuclear warheads, but the pace of their production suggests achieving a superpower-level arsenal in an extremely short time. This is a change of historical significance, as for decades Beijing maintained a strategy of minimal deterrence. US intelligence points to the construction of hundreds of new missile silos and traces of a mysterious explosion at research centers, which is said to prove the intensification of work on a new generation of weapons of mass destruction. Experts suggest that China could match the US in potential within just four or five years, completely altering the existing global security architecture. The talks schedule was precisely planned to exert maximum pressure on the delegation from the Middle Kingdom. On Monday, February 23, the American side held consultations with the Russians, focusing on the future of bilateral treaties and strategic stability. Tuesday, in turn, was dedicated to direct talks with Chinese representatives. Washington argues that, due to the scale of armaments, Beijing can no longer avoid arms control mechanisms. The Chinese delegation, despite participating in the meeting, consistently refuses formal commitments to reduce its arsenal, claiming that its potential still remains a fraction of American and Russian forces. Since 2010, the New START treaty has been the cornerstone of nuclear security, limiting the number of deployed warheads to 1,550 for each side. However, this document does not include China, which has become a major point of contention in superpower relations.„China has opened a new era in the nuclear arms race.” — US administration representative Analysts emphasize that the current situation is the most complex since the end of the Cold War. The transition from a bipolar to a tripolar power structure requires the creation of entirely new legal frameworks. The US demands greater transparency from China and a voluntary limitation of fissile material production. European media suggest that American intelligence services deliberately disclosed part of the intelligence data to force China to abandon its strategy of silence. Behind the scenes, it is said that the lack of an agreement could lead to an uncontrolled arms race in the Pacific, especially in light of growing tensions around Taiwan and the South China Sea.