UPDATE - China urges US to uphold nuclear test moratorium

UPDATES WITH CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY COMMENT ON RUSSIA'S CLAIM UK, FRANCE PLAN TO TRANSFER NUCLEAR WEAPONS TO UKRAINE

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) - China on Wednesday called on the United States to abide by its moratorium on nuclear testing and rejected US allegations that Beijing conducted nuclear tests in 2020.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning urged Washington to “abide by its commitments to moratorium on nuclear testing, uphold global consensus on the ban on nuclear testing and stop finding an excuse for the resumption of nuclear testing,” during a regular press briefing.

Mao was responding to questions about US claims that China carried out nuclear tests on June 22, 2020.

“The US accusation is shadow chasing, such remarks are groundless,” Mao said.

She added that China has repeatedly stated it “firmly supported” the purposes and objectives of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty and honors the commitment of the five nuclear-weapon states to maintain a moratorium on nuclear testing.

“The US spares no efforts to sling mud at other countries, such practice harms its own international reputation,” Mao said.

It was the second time this month that China accused the US of attempting to resume nuclear testing after Washington alleged that Beijing conducted nuclear explosive tests in 2020.

On Russia's claims that the UK and France were "planning to deliver" nuclear weapons or a so-called "dirty bomb" to Ukraine, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said: "I do not have relevant information."

"As a matter of principle, China has always maintained that nuclear weapons cannot be used and a nuclear war must not be fought. International nuclear non-proliferation obligations should be earnestly observed," Mao said.