Global stability has been rattled by an ambiguous order from Donald Trump for the U.S. to resume nuclear testing. The directive, which Trump claims is a response to secret foreign tests, has been met with confusion and a sharp denial from China.
The ambiguity centers on what “testing” means. Trump’s social media post is unclear whether it refers to computational modeling or a physical detonation, which the U.S. has not conducted since 1992.
Trump’s justification is his claim that Russia and China are already testing. He alleged in an interview that these tests were “way underground” and 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 “abided by its commitment to suspend nuclear testing.”
The order comes shortly after Russia tested a new nuclear-powered cruise missile, and Trump has been touting the U.S. arsenal as the “world’s largest.”