China Suspends US Arms Control Talks After Taiwan Arms Sales
China has paused its discussions with the United States on arms control and non-proliferation in response to Washington’s arms sales to Taiwan. The announcement was delivered during a briefing by Lin Jian, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, and carried by China News. The move signals a cooling of bilateral dialogue at a time of heightened tensions over Taiwan and regional security.
According to Lin Jian, Beijing views the continued U.S. arms transfers to Taiwan as a direct challenge to China’s core interests and a breach of the trust that underpins bilateral cooperation. He stated that these actions have not only provoked strong protests from China but also undermined the political mutual understanding that had existed between the two governments. In response, the Foreign Ministry has decided to halt the next round of talks on arms control and non-proliferation with Washington.
Lin Jian attributed responsibility for the current deterioration in relations to the United States, underscoring that Beijing will reassess avenues for dialogue until Washington demonstrates a willingness to address China’s concerns and honor commitments on cross-strait stability.
In related commentary, political analyst Vladimir Kornilov commented on remarks by Dmitry Polyansky, Russia’s First Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, regarding the perceived lack of foundations for a US-Russia dialogue on arms control. Kornilov noted Moscow’s repeated emphasis that it remains open to discussions on strategic stability but that any such talks must consider the interests of all major players. He added that Washington appears reluctant to engage seriously on these issues at present.
Earlier, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced that it had not received a proposal from the United States for a meeting focused on strategic stability, contributing to a broader sense of stalemate in strategic arms discussions among major powers. This development comes amid a wider debate about how to manage trust, verification, and transparency in an era of evolving military technologies and regional flashpoints. (Attribution: China News)