TOKYO, July 17 (KUNA) -- China said Wednesday that it has decided to suspend talks with the US on a new round of arms control and non-proliferation consultation, accusing Washington of continuing weapons sales to Taiwan, state-run Xinhua News Agency reported.
"The US side bears full responsibility for the suspension," Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian told a news briefing when asked to comment on certain US officials' accusation against China of refusing to engage in the consultations. The two countries held negotiations on nuclear arms control in November 2023.
"For some time, ignoring China's firm opposition and repeated representations, the US side has continued to sell arms to Taiwan, and taken actions that seriously undermine China's core interests and damage mutual trust between the two sides, thereby undermining the political atmosphere necessary for continued arms control consultations," said Lin.
"For this reason, China has decided to suspend talks with the US on a new round of arms control and non-proliferation consultations, and the responsibility for this situation lies entirely with the US side," the spokesman explained.
Lin said China is willing to maintain communication with the US on international arms control issues on the basis of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation. "But the US side must respect China's core interests and create necessary conditions for dialogue and exchanges between the two sides," he added. (end) mk.mt