An order from Donald Trump for the U.S. to “start testing” has sent shockwaves through the international community, primarily due to its profound lack of clarity. The directive has sparked confusion about U.S. policy and drawn a sharp denial from China over Trump’s justifications.
The central question is what “testing” signifies. Trump’s social media post gave no details, leaving it unknown if he meant computational modeling or a physical detonation, which would break the U.S. moratorium in place since 1992.
Trump’s stated reason for the order is his belief that the U.S. is being left behind. He claimed in a CBS interview that Russia and China are conducting secret tests “way underground,” an allegation for which no public evidence was provided.
China’s foreign ministry immediately pushed back, calling the claim baseless. A spokesperson stated that Beijing is “responsible” and has “abided by its commitment to suspend nuclear testing.”
This ambiguity and Tump’s claims come at a sensitive time. The order follows a recent Russian test of a new nuclear-powered cruise missile and Trump’s own claims that the U.S. possesses the world’s largest arsenal.
