China’s MFA rejects US demand that Beijing join nuclear disarmament talks as unrealistic

BEIJING, October 16. /TASS/. Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning dismissed Washington’s demand to Beijing that it join nuclear arms control negotiations as unfair and unrealistic. "At this stage, the [US] demand that China take part in so-called nuclear disarmament talks is unfair, unfounded and unrealistic," the Chinese diplomat said at a news briefing, commenting on a recent statement from US President Donald Trump. According to Mao, Beijing has repeatedly voiced its position on the matter. "As a country that has a huge nuclear arsenal, the United States must honor its special priority commitments in the sphere of nuclear disarmament in good faith. This opinion is shared by the international community," she explained. China’s nuclear capabilities "are completely overshadowed by the American and Russian" arsenals, Mao added. Trump said earlier that he had raised the issue of nuclear arms control at talks with his Russian and Chinese counterparts, Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping, respectively.