China reassured the US that it will not use or threaten to use nuclear weapons over Taiwan as semi-official nuclear talks between US and Chinese delegates resumed in March for the first time in five years, Reuters reported on Friday.

Reuters

According to the report, scholar David Santoro - the US organizer of the talks known as "Track Two" - said the Chinese representatives expressed firm belief that China "can prevail in a conventional fight over Taiwan without using nuclear weapons."

The Express Tribune

The semi-official Track Two format usually involves former officials and academics who are in a position to authoritatively represent the position of their respective governments, albeit not directly involved in the decision-making processes.

Yahoo! News

One of the main concerns the US side sought to address, Santoro said, was whether China remains committed to its policy of non-first use and minimum deterrence, which stems from the development of its first nuclear bomb in the early 1960s.

AsiaOne

Summarizing Beijing's position Santoro said the Chinese representatives told their US counterparts that China maintains these policies and that the are ‚„not interested in reaching nuclear parity‘“ with the US, ‚„let alone superiority.‘“

The Japan Times

At the two-day talks in March, which have remained unknown so far, the US took part with a delegation of about six officials and scholars, while Beijing sent academics and analysts, including several former officers of the Chinese military.

Reuters #

The Express Tribune #

Yahoo! News #

AsiaOne #

The Japan Times #

The talks may be an encouraging sign, but the reporting paints a biased picture. It is the US that is fueling the nuclear race and engaging in nuclear sabre-rattling to supposedly protect Taiwan. Moreover, Washington dismissed Chinese calls for a no-first-use treaty between nuclear powers, while holding many times more nuclear warheads than China. China remains convinced that the only way to avoid the danger of an apocalyptic disaster is through nuclear disarmament.

People's World

People's World #

U.S. rejects China’s proposal to ban first use of nuclear weapons

There is a 57% chance, that China will reach 1K nuclear warheads by 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

Metaculus2

2030: Does China Have 1000 Nukes?

China's Growing Nuclear Arsenal Concerns Experts

Nuclear weapons

Military

China

United States of America

The Chinese assurance that Beijing will not offensively use nuclear weapons against Taiwan is good news. However, such talks cannot replace formal negotiations and the truth is that China recently rejected US efforts to resume bilateral arms control talks. Moreover, Beijing's claim to maintain a no-first-use policy is increasingly at odds with its growing nuclear stockpile. To make the world safer, China needs to enter into basic negotiations to avoid the risks of uncontrolled nuclear escalation.

China's Growing Nuclear Arsenal Concerns Experts

China's Growing Nuclear Arsenal Concerns Experts

The Spin

Metaculus Prediction

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China's Growing Nuclear Arsenal Concerns Experts

China's Growing Nuclear Arsenal Concerns Experts

The Spin

Metaculus Prediction

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