The allegation of “secret tests” is at the heart of Donald Trump’s new directive for the U.S. to resume nuclear testing. This claim, which Trump has leveled against both Russia and China, has been flatly denied by Beijing and has caused widespread confusion.
In a CBS interview, Trump claimed his rivals were testing “way underground” and “don’t talk about it.” He used this as the basis for his social media order to “start testing.”
The order itself is profoundly ambiguous. It is not known if it refers to computer simulations or a physical explosion, which would break the U.S. moratorium on testing that has held since 1992.
China’s foreign ministry quickly countered Trump’s claims. A spokesperson stated that China is a “responsible nuclear-weapons state” and has always “abided by its commitment to suspend nuclear testing.”
This entire incident adds to a volatile global situation, following a recent Russian missile test and Trump’s own boasts about the size of the U.S. nuclear arsenal.