Trump Administration Holds Secret Nuclear Talks With China

The Trump administration has engaged in quiet diplomatic discussions with China to address Beijing's rapidly expanding nuclear arsenal and allegations that it violated the 1996 Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. These talks, held in Geneva, New York, and Casablanca, focused on reducing nuclear risks and improving verification measures to detect low-yield nuclear tests, specifically regarding a suspected 2020 test at China's Lop Nur site.

While the United States has pressed for transparency on nuclear-force levels and increased advance notice for ballistic-missile tests, China has denied the testing allegations and rebuffed formal arms-control pacts. In October 2025, President Donald Trump warned he would resume U.S. nuclear testing on an equal basis if China and Russia did not cease suspected low-level tests.

These dialogues occur as President Trump prepares to meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping following a United Nations meeting to discuss trade, artificial intelligence, and business deals. Senior State Department official Christopher Yeaw noted that Russia and China have shown initial signs of openness to strategic stability discussions, though he clarified that the parties are far from discussing central limits or caps on arsenals.