A confusing directive from Donald Trump to resume U.S. nuclear testing has triggered a diplomatic clash and widespread uncertainty. Trump’s order is based on his allegation of secret tests by rivals, a claim China has forcefully denied.
The order to “start testing” was posted on social media, but its meaning is unclear. It could mean computational modeling or a physical detonation, which would break the 1992 U.S. moratorium.
Trump’s justification is that Russia and China are already testing “way underground.” In an interview, he claimed, “they don’t talk about it.”
China’s foreign ministry immediately issued a sharp refutation. A spokesperson stated that Beijing is a “responsible nuclear-weapons state” and has “abided by its commitment to suspend nuclear testing.”
The timing is notable, coming after a Russian missile test and Trump’s claims that the U.S. has the “world’s largest” nuclear arsenal.