China Rejects Trump’s Claim of Secret Nuclear Weapons Testing

Beijing has strongly refuted U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim that China is secretly conducting nuclear weapons tests. The Chinese Foreign Ministry asserted that the country adheres to a strict no-first-use policy on nuclear weapons and remains committed to global disarmament.

Speaking at a press briefing, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning responded to Trump’s remarks by reaffirming China’s stance as a “responsible nuclear-weapons state” that has “always adhered to the path of peaceful development.” Mao emphasized that China has upheld its commitment to suspend nuclear testing and continues to support global non-proliferation efforts.

Mao added that Beijing expects Washington to take “concrete actions to safeguard the international nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime and maintain global strategic balance and stability.”

Trump’s Allegation of Undisclosed Tests

The controversy began when Trump accused China—and several other nations—of secretly conducting underground nuclear tests. In an interview on CBS’s 60 Minutes, he claimed that Russia, China, North Korea, and Pakistan have carried out nuclear detonations that “nobody knows about.”

“I don't want to be the only country that doesn't test,” Trump said, hinting that the United States may resume nuclear testing after a pause since 1992. The comments followed Russia's announcement that it had tested two new nuclear-powered weapons systems.

Trump’s remarks caused widespread confusion, with many questioning whether the U.S. planned to conduct an underground nuclear explosion for the first time in over three decades. The president doubled down, suggesting other countries test “way underground” and out of the public eye.

U.S. Administration Clarifies Position

Following the uproar, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright clarified that the U.S. is not planning to resume explosive nuclear testing. Speaking to Fox News, Wright said any upcoming tests would be “non-critical”, involving simulations of weapon components rather than full nuclear detonations.

“These are what we call 'system tests'... you’re testing all the other parts of a nuclear weapon to ensure they deliver the appropriate geometry and set up the nuclear explosion,” Wright explained.

The U.S. signed the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) in 1996, which bans all nuclear test explosions. The treaty, while not formally ratified by the U.S. Senate, has guided American nuclear policy for decades.

No country other than North Korea has conducted a confirmed nuclear test since the 1990s. China and Russia last tested nuclear weapons in 1996 and 1990, respectively, according to international records. Trump’s allegations suggest the existence of covert testing, though no verifiable evidence has been presented.