China has issued a warning about escalating nuclear risks, following US President Donald Trump’s announcement that the US would soon resume nuclear weapons testing. The warning comes amid heightened global tensions over expanding nuclear arsenals and modernized delivery systems.

In a white paper on arms control released Thursday, China’s State Council Information Office criticized unnamed countries for “stubbornly maintaining massive nuclear arsenals, enhancing nuclear deterrence and combat capabilities, thereby heightening the risk of global nuclear conflict.” The statement was widely interpreted as a veiled reference to the United States.

The document reiterated China’s stance that it has maintained an “extremely restrained” approach to nuclear weapons development and would not engage in a nuclear arms race. Beijing also highlighted its ongoing modernization efforts, including testing hypersonic nuclear-capable missiles and intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), while noting it last conducted a nuclear bomb test in 1996.

Trump signals US nuclear tests

Trump’s comments followed Russia’s recent trials of a nuclear-powered underwater drone and a nuclear-powered cruise missile. The US president said Washington would conduct nuclear tests “pretty soon,” although it remains unclear whether this refers to detonating warheads, which would reverse decades of US policy and violate the de facto global ban, or testing delivery systems alone.

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) remains the only country known to have detonated a nuclear bomb in this century, with its last test conducted in 2017.

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Arms control tensions and military developments

The white paper also criticized efforts to deploy missile defense systems, such as Trump’s proposed Golden Dome, which aims to shield the US from both limited and large-scale attacks by major nuclear powers. Analysts have questioned the technical feasibility of such programs.

Additionally, reports indicate that Washington and Seoul are negotiating to build nuclear-powered submarines for both navies, a move intended to counter China’s expanding fleet, according to Admiral Daryl Caudle, chief of US naval operations.

China’s white paper frames these developments as evidence that nuclear arms expansion by other states increases global conflict risks, while Beijing continues to call for restraint and adherence to international arms control norms.

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