China has pressed pause on arms control and nuclear proliferation talks with the US, blaming the suspension on US arms sales to Taiwan. Taiwan's independence has been a decadeslong grievance for China's Communist rulers.
China claims that Taiwan is part of its territory and has threatened to attack it if it doesn't cede control. A Chinese government spokesperson blamed the US for compromising the political atmosphere for arms control talks.
US State Department criticized China's stance, likening it to Russia's approach: 'China has chosen to follow Russia's lead in asserting that engagement on arms control can't proceed when there are other challenges in the bilateral relationship.'
Ali Wyne emphasized the importance of US-China discussions on strategic stability: 'The suspension is disappointing given how essential it is for the world's two most powerful countries to have substantive discussions on strategic stability.'
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