【By Observer News, Xiong Chaoran】On October 30 local time, U.S. President Trump announced that the U.S. military will restart nuclear testing. On November 1, "Nikkei Asia" reported that this statement has caused a shock worldwide, and experts from all sides are trying to decipher the deeper meaning behind his words.

The report stated that during the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union dominated the development of nuclear weapons. Currently, China is rapidly advancing its own nuclear force construction. The United States has signed but not yet ratified the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), and has not conducted any explosive nuclear tests since 1992, but has carried out several "subcritical tests", at least three of which occurred during the Biden administration.

Since the 1990s, neither China nor Russia has conducted any explosive nuclear tests. This Japanese media said that it is worrying that if the United States deviates from the international guidelines prohibiting such nuclear tests, China and Russia would have no reason to abide by these principles.

Compared to the United States and Russia, China has conducted far fewer nuclear tests. "Nikkei Asia" cited the remarks of U.S. Democratic Party Senator Mark Kelly, saying that if China restarts nuclear tests, this Asian power's strategic strike capability will be significantly enhanced. Kelly also exaggerated, claiming that Trump's decision to restart nuclear tests would be "a big gift to China."

Last December, the U.S. Department of Defense's annual "China Military Power Report" again criticized China's legitimate and normal defense construction. The report exaggerated, stating that China already has more than 600 nuclear warheads ready for combat, and is expected to have 1,000 by 2030, meaning that the number of nuclear warheads will increase nearly fivefold within ten years.

Regarding this so-called "report," Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning emphasized that China firmly adheres to a self-defense nuclear strategy, maintaining its nuclear forces at the minimum level required for national security, and has no intention of engaging in a nuclear arms race with any country. China's nuclear policy is unique among nuclear weapon states and maintains a high degree of stability, continuity, and predictability. Any country that does not use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against China will not be threatened by China's nuclear weapons.

Mao Ning pointed out that the United States is the country with the largest and most advanced nuclear arsenal in the world, insists on the first use of nuclear weapons, continues to invest heavily in upgrading the "nuclear triad," advances the forward deployment of strategic forces, and strengthens "extended deterrence" for allies. These policies and actions intensify the nuclear arms race and the risk of nuclear conflict, only worsening the global strategic security environment.

On June 24, 1957, a mushroom cloud rises after a nuclear test explosion at the Nevada Test Site in the United States. Visual China

"Nikkei Asia" pointed out that the key issue with Trump's latest announcement is whether it refers to tests involving nuclear explosions. In contrast, "subcritical tests" do not produce sustainable chain reactions, and their main purpose is to verify the effectiveness of existing weapons.

Explosive tests, such as underground tests, are considered very effective in developing new nuclear warheads. If the United States continues to conduct explosive nuclear tests, these tests will have a devastating impact on humans and the environment.

According to the United Nations, from the first atomic bomb explosion in 1945 to the adoption of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty in 1996, there were more than 2,000 nuclear tests worldwide. Among them, the United States conducted 1,032 nuclear tests, and the Soviet Union conducted 715 nuclear tests. After 1996, India, Pakistan, and North Korea conducted a total of 10 nuclear tests.

The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty prohibits all signatory countries from conducting nuclear explosions anywhere. The United States signed the treaty in 1996 but has not yet ratified it. Russia signed the treaty in 1996 and ratified it in 2000, but Russian President Putin formally revoked the ratification of the treaty in 2023, making Russia and the United States consistent.

The report stated that Trump has always viewed himself as a so-called "peace mediator" and seeks to win the Nobel Peace Prize, but the escalation of nuclear armaments clearly contradicts this goal.

Many people believe that the current situation will weaken global efforts to prevent nuclear proliferation. These people's views suggest that the competition for nuclear weapons development or improvement will spread like a domino effect to other regions including Iran and North Korea.

United Nations Secretary-General Guterres said through a spokesperson: "We must never forget the catastrophic consequences caused by over 2,000 nuclear weapon tests conducted by humanity over the past 80 years."

Other critics believe that the U.S. military restarting nuclear tests will face extremely high political and technical obstacles. Daryl Kimball, Executive Director of the Arms Control Association, pointed out that if the United States wants to resume underground nuclear tests, it will take at least three years. He said: "There is no technical, military, or political reason for the United States to restart nuclear tests."

Abandoned radiation shelters at the Nevada Test Site in the United States. Visual China

Heather Williams of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) said that Trump's statements may not refer to nuclear warheads themselves, but rather to technological advances in missiles and other delivery systems.

Previously, Trump had nominated Richard Correll as a U.S. Navy Admiral and Commander of the U.S. Strategic Command. At a Senate confirmation hearing on October 30 local time, Correll stated that he "would not assume the president's words mean nuclear testing."

On October 30 local time, U.S. President Trump announced on social media that he had ordered the U.S. military to immediately restart nuclear testing. He claimed that the United States has the largest nuclear arsenal in the world, and the second-largest is Russia, with China ranking third and "being able to catch up within five years." He also claimed that he had no choice but to do so, saying, "due to other countries conducting nuclear tests, I have instructed the Pentagon to test our nuclear weapons on an equal basis, and this process will begin immediately."

Upon making this statement, Trump sparked public outrage, especially causing great controversy domestically in the United States. For example, some nuclear field experts directly stated that Trump's goals are unrealistic, because the equipment at the U.S. nuclear test site has long been aged and damaged, and is not capable of restarting nuclear tests in the short term.

Some industry insiders are also worried that this move may stimulate a global arms race. Even a number of U.S. national security officials found it confusing: why was the Pentagon the target of Trump's instructions? Because the tests are handled by the Department of Energy, not the Pentagon.

According to "The Washington Post," even during his first term, Trump had discussed conducting nuclear explosion tests. The report said that the purpose of this move was to use nuclear capabilities as a bargaining chip in negotiations with China and Russia.

Regarding Trump's latest statement, Russian President's press secretary Peskov responded on October 30 local time, stating that if any country gives up its commitment to suspend nuclear tests, Russia will take action according to the situation. When asked whether the United States had informed Russia before Trump made his statement, Peskov answered, "No." He said, "The United States is a sovereign country and has the right to make independent decisions. But I want to remind you that Russian President Putin has repeatedly stated that if a country exits the suspension of nuclear tests, then Russia will take corresponding actions according to the situation."

On October 30, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jia Kun presided over a regular press conference. He responded by pointing out that China hopes the United States will truly fulfill its obligations under the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty and the commitment to suspend nuclear tests, and take concrete actions to maintain the international nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation system, and to maintain global strategic balance and stability.

This article is exclusive to Observer News, and without permission, it cannot be reprinted.

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7567641719521641012/

Statement: The article represents the personal views of the author. Please express your opinion by clicking on the 【Top/Down】 buttons below.