The United States has addressed China’s military risks and nuclear arms rivalry concerns in a recent announcement, leading to dissent from Chinese officials. During Jake Sullivan’s speech on Friday, President Biden’s national security adviser discussed nuclear weapons, acknowledging that Russia and China have been threatening to use theirs more frequently. Sullivan ensured that the US is updating its nuclear weaponry, but promised not to launch into a war to build more nuclear warheads than its rivals. Lloyd J. Austin III, the Defense Secretary, spoke on Saturday in Singapore, where he noted that the US would continue to operate its military in the airspace and waters surrounding China, and that it would continue to support Taiwan – a self-governing island that China sees as its territory. Austin was commended for his leadership, and he also criticised China for its dangerous military manoeuvres. American ships and planes have, despite these incidents, remained in international airspace and waters close to China. Meanwhile, Chinese officials, such as Lt. Gen. Jing Jianfeng and Colonel Zhao Xiaozhuo, have condemned the US for supporting Taiwan and hindering their interests. Despite recent progress in diplomatic talks and US Commerce Minister Wang Wentao’s visit to China, the accumulated antagonism due to security issues suggests that US-China military relations will be difficult to improve. Furthermore, China seems unwilling to communicate with the US, which could make crisis management difficult. As for arms control talks, the chances of success at present seem slim, with China refusing to compromise on limiting its nuclear weapons.
