Washington, Feb 19 (NationPress) The United States has accused China of engaging in a “yield-producing nuclear test” back in 2020, emphasizing that Washington will not tolerate an “intolerable disadvantage” as President Donald Trump advocates for a new multilateral arms control framework.

During a speech at the Hudson Institute, Assistant Secretary of State for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation, Christopher Yeaw, revealed that the US is “aware that China conducted one such yield-producing nuclear test on June 22, 2020,” at the Lop Nur test facility.

Yeaw stated, “We are aware of yield-producing nuclear explosive testing in China.” He explained that China has employed decoupling techniques to diminish the effectiveness of seismic monitoring, aiming to conceal its nuclear activities from global scrutiny.

He referenced seismic data indicating a “2.75 magnitude” reading observed at a monitoring station in Kazakhstan at “09:18 Zulu, Greenwich Mean Time,” asserting that it is virtually impossible for it to be anything other than an explosion—“A singular explosion,” he noted.

While the precise yield remains undetermined due to these decoupling techniques, Yeaw remarked, “What the yield was is impossible to tell.” However, he noted that the seismic graphs clearly indicate that it was indeed super critical and yield producing.

China has yet to publicly acknowledge the test. Yeaw criticized Beijing for its use of “opacity, silence, obfuscation, and deflection.”

These comments follow the expiration of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, or New START, which Yeaw deemed flawed as it “constrained the United States while allowing China to remain completely unconstrained.”

He elaborated, stating, “Only two blocks out of six were captured by the treaty,” referencing US and Russian intercontinental warheads, labeling it as a significant issue.

Yeaw characterized China's nuclear expansion as “geometric,” indicating it is growing “by leaps and bounds.” He quoted a former US commander, describing the growth as “breathtaking and maybe even beyond breathtaking.”

He emphasized that Article VI of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) mandates all nuclear-armed states to engage in disarmament discussions, stating, “I don’t see anywhere in Article VI a special caveat or assignment to the United States and Russia for special responsibility in this matter.”

President Trump aims for “a better agreement” and has extended an invitation for China to participate in “multilateral strategic stability talks.” He clarified, “America first arms control cannot and does not mean America only arms control.”

On the topic of nuclear testing, Yeaw highlighted Trump’s commitment to resume testing on an “equal basis.” He clarified that this does not imply returning to large atmospheric tests, saying, “Equal basis doesn’t mean we’re going back to Ivy Mike-style atmospheric testing.”

He cited former US Ambassador Robinson's warning that if adversaries conduct tests at undetectable yields while the US adheres to strict limits, it will face an “intolerable disadvantage.”

When asked if Washington had raised the issue with Beijing and Moscow, Yeaw confirmed, “They have received cables from us, yes.” He expressed hope for “productive discussions” in Geneva and Vienna.

Yeaw also connected arms control to extended deterrence, asserting, “In extending deterrence to our allies… the United States is doing more for non-proliferation than frankly, almost any other tool.”

The New START treaty, signed in 2010, limited the number of deployed US and Russian strategic nuclear warheads and delivery systems. It lapsed after a five-year extension amidst deteriorating US-Russia relations over Ukraine and broader strategic tensions.

The NPT Review Conference is slated for April, where Washington is anticipated to urge all nuclear-armed states, including China, to engage in what Yeaw termed “good-faith negotiations toward disarmament,” as global apprehensions over renewed nuclear competition among major powers intensify.