In March, “semi-official talks” were held, the first in 5 years, Reuters reported.
Beijing representatives said they would not resort to nuclear threats over Taiwan. They are confident of victory without the use of such weapons, according to David Santoro, the organizer of the talks. China is also not seeking nuclear parity with the United States.
The “track two” talks included academics and former officials. China sent analysts and ex-army officers. The U.S. was represented by six people. The meeting lasted two days in Shanghai. The next one is scheduled for 2025.
The U.S. State Department called the talks useful but emphasized that they were not a substitute for official talks. The countries briefly resumed formal nuclear arms consultations in November, but they have stalled.
The Pentagon sees China’s nuclear arsenal growing by 20 percent between 2021 and 2023. Beijing has 500 warheads and could have 1,000 by 2030. The US and Russia each have 1,770 and 1,710, respectively.
The U.S. believes China could use nuclear weapons if it threatens the Communist Party’s power because of the defeat in Taiwan. China is not giving up on a forceful solution to the Taiwan issue.
Taiwan seceded from China after a civil war in 1949. Beijing considers the island its territory.
