Nuclear Tensions Escalate as Trump Calls for US to Resume Testing

The US-China nuclear rivalry has deepened, with President Trump's announcement that the US will begin testing its nuclear weapons potentially prompting China and Russia to resume full-yield nuclear testing. This move has put significant stress on the nuclear nonproliferation regime, which has been a cornerstone of international security for decades. Experts warn that resuming nuclear testing could lead to a destabilization of the global security environment, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region.

Key Takeaways:

• The US has announced plans to resume nuclear testing, with President Trump instructing the Department of War to start testing nuclear weapons on an equal basis with other countries.
• China and Russia have been rapidly building up their nuclear arsenals, with China boasting approximately 600 nuclear warheads and Russia having nearly completed its modernization of all nuclear forces.
• The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, a global moratorium on testing, has been adopted by most countries, but China and the US have signed but not ratified the treaty.
• China has been testing "sub-critical tests" since 1996, which stop short of atomic blasts, and has been upgrading its nuclear capabilities, including developing nuclear-capable missiles.
• The US tested over 1,000 nuclear devices, including 67 underground nuclear tests at the Nevada Test Site from 1951 to 1992.
• China has about 600 nuclear warheads, designed for land-based missiles, while the US and Russia have thousands of nuclear warheads.
• The US has around 6,300 nuclear warheads, but this number has been decreasing since the Cold War.
• China's five-year military plan, , calls for "strengthened strategic deterrence capabilities," including nuclear forces.
• China's next development plan emphasizes the importance of strengthening its nuclear triad, including nuclear attack capabilities from land, sea, and air.