US, China in talks for reciprocal visits to nuclear sites in bid to build trust

The United States and China are engaging in discussions to arrange reciprocal visits to nuclear sites, as part of efforts to foster mutual trust and prevent an arms race, according to a report by CNN. The US plans to continue pursuing this possibility during upcoming in-person meetings. These talks have proposed visits to US Department of Energy national labs and China's equivalent facilities, as well as potential discussions on nuclear testing sites, a source informed CNN.

The US is apprehensive about China's rapidly expanding nuclear weapons program, while the last arms control agreement between the two nations and Russia is set to expire in 2025. Attempts to establish a trilateral agreement with China and Russia began during President Donald Trump's initial term, but were largely unsuccessful due to China and Russia's disregard for US outreach.

Beijing has claimed its nuclear arsenal is significantly smaller than those of Russia and the US, questioning the necessity of its participation in such negotiations.

However, the current idea of reciprocal visits was reportedly first suggested by Beijing as a demonstration of willingness to engage in confidence-building measures. Discussions on this matter have been taking place at the working level between American and Chinese officials, during UN Security Council gatherings. Former acting assistant secretary of state Paul Dean, who managed US arms control efforts, advised that the administration should approach any nuclear talks with China with caution, emphasizing that reciprocal visits could serve as a valuable confidence-building measure, providing crucial informational and diplomatic groundwork for further efforts to reduce nuclear risk between the two nations.

Dean, now a vice president at the Nuclear Threat Initiative, warned that the current period is extremely perilous and that there are scarce safeguards in place within the US-China nuclear relationship. Further Trump-Xi meetings are anticipated to occur this year, potentially at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in China in November or the Group of 20 meetings in the US in December. Lower-level talks on possible nuclear site visits are expected to transpire prior to the two leaders reconvening for discussions.