China expresses regret over expiration of U.S.-Russia nuclear treaty

China voices regret over the expiration of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) between the United States and Russia, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Thursday.

New START held great importance for maintaining global strategic stability, Lin said at a regular news briefing, adding that the international community is widely concerned that its expiration will have negative impacts on the international arms control regime and the global nuclear order.

Russia has proposed that both countries continue observing the central limits of the treaty after it expires. China calls on the United States to make an active response, handle the follow-up arrangements for the treaty responsibly, and resume dialogue with Russia on strategic stability at an early date, Lin said, adding that this is also what the world hopes to see.

New START, which entered into force in 2011, was the last arms control pact between Russia and the United States after Washington withdrew from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty in 2019.