China Rejects US Accusations of Secret Nuclear Tests, Calls Claims 'Outright Lies'

China on Monday rejected US accusations that it had conducted secret nuclear explosive tests, calling the claims “outright lies” and accusing Washington of using them as a pretext to restart its own nuclear trials. At the UN Conference on Disarmament in Geneva on Friday, Thomas DiNanno, US under secretary of state for arms control, accused China of carrying out nuclear tests, including one on 22 June 2020, and of preparing for additional tests with massive yields. “The US allegations are completely groundless and are outright lies. China firmly opposes the US attempt to fabricate excuses for its own restarting of nuclear tests,”AFPquoted China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs as saying in a statement on Monday. It also urged the United States to “immediately stop its irresponsible actions.” US President Donald Trump said in October that Washington would start testing nuclear weapons “on an equal basis” with Moscow and Beijing, without specifying the type of testing it planned to resume. DiNanno’s remarks accompanied the presentation of a new US proposal calling for three-way talks with Russia and China to set new limits on nuclear weapons, following the expiration of the New START treaty — the last arms control agreement between Washington and Moscow — which lapsed last Thursday. China has already declined to participate in disarmament negotiations “at this stage.” With inputs from agencies India emphasized its energy import choices are based on national interest, affordability, and supply security. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stated India must ensure reliable and reasonably priced energy as a large net importer. India did not confirm any halt to Russian oil purchases despite a new US trade deal. Get the latest stories delivered straight to your inbox.