US, China Explore Reciprocal Nuclear Site Visits
What Happened
The US and China are discussing reciprocal visits to nuclear facilities. According to CNN and Reuters, the idea was first raised by Chinese officials earlier this year during meetings with US counterparts. The proposal includes potential visits to US Department of Energy national laboratories and equivalent Chinese sites, with Washington also open to discussing access to nuclear testing facilities. These talks have taken place informally on the sidelines of UN Security Council P5 meetings. The discussions come after the expiration of the US-Russia New START treaty in February 2026, which removed the last binding limits on strategic arsenals. Estimates suggest the US holds about 5,000 nuclear warheads, while China has around 600–620, but is rapidly expanding its arsenal. President Donald Trump has also pushed for trilateral arms-control talks with Russia and China, though Beijing has resisted formal negotiations, citing its smaller stockpile.
Key Takeaways
While no agreement has been reached, the talks signal a rare opening for nuclear transparency between Washington and Beijing. Reciprocal site visits could serve as a confidence-building measure, laying groundwork for future arms-control discussions at a time of heightened global nuclear insecurity.