In this article, we discuss the revelations by a top US official regarding China’s covert nuclear tests conducted days after the Galwan Valley clash in 2020, highlighting the implications for international security.
In the May 2020 battle in the Galwan Valley, 20 Indian soldiers had died. Although China has never verified it, intelligence assessments indicate that more than 40 Chinese soldiers were also killed in the battles.
China Conducted Nuclear Tests After Galwan Valley Clash
Just days after the fatal battle with Indian forces at Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh, a senior U.S. official said earlier this week that China had carried out covert nuclear explosive tests. The fight in the Galwan Valley in May 2020 claimed the lives of 20 Indian soldiers. Although China has never formally disclosed the number of soldiers it lost, intelligence assessments indicate that over 40 of their personnel perished in the fighting.
US Official Statement on Nuclear Testing
US Under Secretary of State Thomas G. DiNanno made the assertion. He did not, however, immediately connect the testing to the conflict in the Galwan Valley because organizing a nuclear test takes months. Some unverified sources claim that China possesses about 600 nuclear bombs.China is prepared for tests with specified yields in the hundreds of tons and has tested nuclear explosives. China has concealed its actions from the globe by using decoupling, a technique that reduces the efficacy of seismic monitoring. On June 22, 2020, China carried out one such nuclear test that produced a yield, DiNanno stated in a string of messages on X (formerly Twitter).
China’s Response to US Claims
China has stated that it has always operated properly in nuclear affairs, although it has neither refuted nor rejected DiNanno’s claim. Shen Jian, China’s ambassador on disarmament, also charged in a statement that the US was escalating the arms race. China observes that the United States keeps exaggerating the alleged nuclear threat posed by China in its statement. China is adamantly against these misleading notions,” he stated.
Implications for New START Treaty
According to the US Under Secretary of State, the 2010 New START agreement is no longer applicable in the current day. He asserted that the New START deal only covered a small portion of Russia’s far larger arsenal, but it applied to nearly all of the US’s deployed nuclear forces. He added that New START covered “exactly zero” Chinese nuclear weapons.
US Deterrence and Strategic Framework
On behalf of its citizens and allies, he continued, the US may now take action to increase deterrence. He did point out that the US has remained committed to looking for arms control agreements and strategic stability that are enforceable, verifiable, and enhance its security.”
“The United States has a clear responsibility to call for a new architecture that confronts the risks of today, not those of a bygone period,” DiNanno said, citing a number of concerns, including serial Russian violations, the expansion of global stockpiles, and shortcomings in the design and implementation of New START.
🛰️ Galwan Clash Nuclear Insights
- Date of Clash: May 2020
- Indian Casualties: 20 soldiers
- Chinese Casualties: Estimated 40+ soldiers
- Nuclear Tests: Secret tests conducted days after the clash
- US Statement: By Under Secretary Thomas G. DiNanno
⚠️ Global Security Concerns
- Decoupling: Method used to hide nuclear test activity
- New START Treaty: Does not cover Chinese nuclear weapons
- US Deterrence: Strengthened for allies and self
- China’s Position: Claims responsible nuclear behavior
- Global Risk: Modern threats require new arms control
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What were the victims in the clash in the Galwan Valley and when did it happen?
Twenty Indian soldiers lost their lives in the May 2020 battle in the Galwan Valley. China has never formally acknowledged the killing of more than 40 Chinese soldiers, however intelligence sources indicate this was also the case.
2. What alleged nuclear exercises did China carry out following the conflict?
Days after the Galwan conflict, China carried out covert nuclear explosive tests, including a yield-producing nuclear test on June 22, 2020, according to US Under Secretary of State Thomas G. DiNanno. China allegedly reduced seismic detection by using a method known as decoupling.
3. Were China’s nuclear experiments verified?
No, China has not acknowledged or refuted the tests. Chinese authorities insisted that their nation handles nuclear issues properly and attacked the United States for supposedly escalating the world arms race.
4. What is the connection between this and the New START treaty?
The 2010 New START deal does not address Chinese nuclear weapons, DiNanno pointed out. The deal omitted Chinese nuclear weapons entirely, but it did cover US-deployed nuclear troops and a portion of Russia’s nuclear arsenal.
5. How does the United States currently stand on nuclear deterrence?
While keeping an open mind to verifiable and enforceable weapons control agreements, the US intends to fortify deterrence for both itself and its allies. DiNanno underlined the necessity of a new strategic framework to tackle modern dangers, such as Russian treaty violations and the expansion of global nuclear stockpiles.
Conclusion
A major military conflict between China and India occurred in May 2020 in the Galwan Valley. Reports of covert Chinese nuclear testing in the wake of it have sparked worries about international security. US officials contend that a new arms control framework is required to handle contemporary dangers, such as China’s uncontrolled nuclear capabilities and changing global stocks, even though China insists it behaves responsibly.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and reflects publicly available statements from US officials and intelligence assessments.
