Overview
- Undersecretary Thomas DiNanno told the U.N. Conference on Disarmament that China conducted a yield-producing explosion on June 22, 2020 and is preparing tests with designated yields in the hundreds of tons.
- DiNanno alleged China interfered with seismic monitoring and said Russia is assisting Beijing in developing weapons-grade fissile material, without publicly presenting supporting evidence.
- CTBTO chief Robert Floyd said the organization’s global system detected no event consistent with a nuclear weapon test at the alleged time and that this assessment stands after further analysis.
- China rejected the accusations as unfounded, reiterated its voluntary moratorium on nuclear testing, and criticized recent U.S. actions in nuclear arms control.
- The remarks came as President Donald Trump declined to renew New START and signaled pursuit of a broader pact that includes China, while prior satellite analyses show continued expansion at China’s Lop Nur test site.