The decades-long U.S. moratorium on nuclear explosions is under fire following a vague social media order from Donald Trump to “start testing.” The directive, justified by claims of foreign cheating, has caused confusion and a Chinese denial.
The confusion stems from the lack of detail. It is unknown if Trump’s order refers to computational simulations or a physical detonation, which would be the first since 1992.
Trump claims the move is a response to rivals’ actions. He alleged in an interview that both Russia and China are conducting secret tests “way underground.”
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.”
This event occurs in a high-stakes environment, following a recent Russian missile test and Trump’s boasts about the U.S. arsenal’s size.