Donald Trump’s order for the U.S. to resume nuclear testing has created widespread confusion and drawn a sharp denial from China. The directive, which Trump claims is a response to secret foreign tests, has unclear implications for the U.S. moratorium on nuclear explosions.
Confusion has followed the social media post where Trump instructed the “Department of War” to “start testing.” It is not known if this refers to computational modeling or the first physical detonation since 1992.
Trump claims the move is justified. “Russia’s testing, and China’s testing, but they don’t talk about it,” he said in a CBS interview. He alleged the tests were “way underground” and thus hidden from public view.
China’s foreign ministry swiftly refuted the claim. A spokesperson stated that Beijing is a “responsible nuclear-weapons state” and has always “abided by its commitment to suspend nuclear testing.”
The former president also touted the strength of the U.S. arsenal, claiming it was the world’s largest. His order comes shortly after Russia tested a new nuclear-powered cruise missile.