China’s foreign ministry said on Wednesday it was “neither reasonable nor realistic” for Beijing to join trilateral nuclear disarmament talks reportedly discussed between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska.
Trump told reporters on Monday that Washington and Moscow were discussing ways to reduce their nuclear arsenals, adding that he hoped China would also join the process.
On Wednesday, foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun rejected the proposal at a regular press briefing.
“Demanding that China join China-US-Russia trilateral nuclear disarmament talks is neither reasonable nor realistic,” he said.
Trump’s push for trilateral negotiations followed his summit with Putin on August 15 in Alaska, where nuclear arms control featured prominently.
The US leader told reporters at the Oval Office: “One of the things we’re trying to do with Russia and with China is denuclearisation, and it’s very important.”
“Russia is willing to do it, and I think China is going to be willing to do it too,” he added.
