China Backs Russian Nuclear Proposal, Rejects Trilateral Talks

Beijing has called on Washington to respond positively to a "constructive" Russian proposal regarding the extension of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), which is set to expire in just two days on February 5, 2026. The Chinese Foreign Ministry emphasized that the U.S. must act responsibly to maintain global strategic stability as the world’s two largest nuclear powers navigate a critical deadline.

A Crucial Extension Deadline New START, the last remaining major nuclear arms control agreement between the U.S. and Russia, limits the number of deployed strategic nuclear warheads and launchers. During a regular press briefing on Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated that China’s position is clear: the U.S. should embrace Russia’s offer to maintain the treaty's core limits for an additional year.

Russian President Vladimir Putin indicated in September 2025 that Moscow would continue to adhere to the treaty's fundamental constraints for one year post-expiration, provided that the United States refrains from actions that undermine the existing strategic balance.

China Rejects Trilateral Arms Control Demands Addressing long-standing pressure from Washington for China to join trilateral nuclear disarmament negotiations alongside the U.S. and Russia, Lin Jian reiterated that such demands are "neither fair nor reasonable."

"The nuclear capabilities of China and the United States are not comparable in terms of scale," the spokesperson noted, arguing that the U.S. and Russia, possessing the vast majority of the world's nuclear arsenal, bear the primary responsibility for disarmament. Beijing maintains that its nuclear policy is purely defensive and that its arsenal is kept at the minimum level necessary for national security.

The Stakes for Global Security As the February 5 deadline approaches, international security analysts warn that the collapse of New START could trigger a new arms race. Beijing’s public endorsement of the Russian extension proposal signals a desire for a predictable strategic environment, even as tensions between the three world powers remain high on other geopolitical fronts.