State Department Official Repeats Claim Of Secret Chinese Nuclear Testing
Speaking at Stratcom’s Deterrence Symposium was Assistant Secretary of State for Arms Control, Nonproliferation and Stability, Christopher Yeaw. Yeaw went to the State Department from the Hudson Institute last year. A few months ago, he accused both Russia and China of conducting secret nuclear tests. “We had undeniable evidence of a covert Chinese yield-producing nuclear explosive test” in 2020,” Yeaw claimed, adding that open-source estimates placed the yield at roughly 10 tons, and that U.S. officials are aware of Chinese planning for tests “up to hundreds of tons.”
“This covert nuclear testing, wrapped within the illusion of a norm against testing, is likely fueling the modernization and expansion of adversary theater nuclear forces,” Yeaw said, calling those weapons “the most destabilizing nuclear weapons” because of their potential use in regional conflict. Yeaw argued the inability to verify compliance with the 1996 Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty makes the issue “so dangerous.”
Despite his concerns, Yeaw said Washington remains open to strategic stability talks, including discussions on nuclear-testing transparency measures that could improve detection of “ultra low-yield tests.” “Our door is open,” Yeaw said.
