US Alleges China Conducted Secret Nuke Test; Beijing Denies Claim

Top Summary

• What happened: A US official alleged that China conducted an underground nuclear test in June 2020, citing seismic data from Central Asia.
• Why it matters: The accusation raises concerns about nuclear arms control and China's adherence to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty.
• What changes for people: This could intensify geopolitical tensions between the US and China, impacting international relations and nuclear disarmament efforts.
• Who is affected: The US, China, the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO), and the global community concerned with nuclear proliferation are affected.

US Accuses China of Secret Nuclear Test

A senior US official, Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Yeaw, claimed China conducted a covert underground nuclear test in June 2020.

Yeaw cited seismic data recorded in Central Asia as evidence, specifically an explosion of magnitude 2.75 detected on June 22, 2020, near China’s Lop Nor test grounds.

China Denies Allegations

China has vehemently denied the US allegations. A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington, Liu Pengyu, called the claim "entirely unfounded".

Liu stated that the US is attempting "to fabricate excuses for resuming" US nuclear testing.

 

"This is political manipulation aimed at pursuing nuclear hegemony and evading its own nuclear disarmament responsibilities," Liu Pengyu said.

 

Seismic Data and CTBTO Response

The seismic station PS23 in Kazakhstan, part of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) monitoring network, detected the event.

CTBTO Executive Secretary Robert Floyd confirmed the station recorded "two very small seismic events" 12 seconds apart on June 22, 2020.

However, Floyd stated that the agency lacked sufficient data to confidently confirm the allegation, as the events were far below the detectable level of 551 tons (500 metric tons) of TNT.

Decoupling Theory

Yeaw suggested China may have used "decoupling" to conceal the alleged test. Decoupling involves detonating a device inside a large underground chamber to reduce seismic shockwaves.

In a fully decoupled blast, energy increases gas pressure rather than transmitting into surrounding rock, weakening seismic waves.

China has signed but not ratified the 1996 treaty banning nuclear tests and denies conducting any underground nuclear blast since 1996. The United States has also signed but not ratified the pact and last carried out an underground nuclear test in 1992.

Rising Nuclear Concerns

The allegation surfaces amid concerns about nuclear arms control following the expiration of the New START treaty on February 5.

Former US President Donald Trump had urged China to join Washington and Moscow in nuclear arms negotiations, a proposal China rejected.

The Pentagon estimates China has more than 600 operational warheads and projects it could field over 1,000 warheads by 2030.

What to Watch Next

Future developments will likely involve further scrutiny of seismic data and diplomatic exchanges between the US and China. The international community will be watching closely to see if additional evidence emerges and how this situation impacts global nuclear non-proliferation efforts.