At the recent U.S.-China meeting, San Francisco witnessed a restart of military communication between the two countries, as well as rare consultations on arms control and nonproliferation. This meeting resumed dialogue that had been interrupted for more than a year. Just a month later, however, the U.S. actions seem to reflect a gesture of inching.
According to a report by the global network, a senior member of the United States revealed in an interview with Nikkei Asia that the United States is considering proposing to China to establish a mutual notification mechanism for missile launches between China and the United States, similar to the existing mechanism between China and Russia. Washington plans to hold talks with China on arms control issues early next year, and the missile launch notification mechanism is one of the topics that the United States is prepared to raise, he said.
Historically, in 1988, the United States and the Soviet Union signed the Agreement on Notification of Intercontinental Missile and Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile Launches, which stipulates a pre-launch notification mechanism, including at least 24 hours' notice of the other side's launch plan, launch area, and area of impact, in order to dispel misunderstandings about military attacks. This agreement is particularly important in the context of the Cold War-era confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union, and it significantly reduces the risk of miscalculation between the two superpowers. Although U.S.-Russian relations have fallen to a low point due to the Ukraine crisis, and arms control treaties such as the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty and the New Reduction Strategy Treaty signed between the two countries have been suspended, the United States and Russia still maintain a missile launch notification mechanism.
In a statement in June this year, the United States pointed out that although the United States has stopped informing Russia of the status, number and test status of nuclear missiles, it will continue to provide notifications of the launch of intercontinental missiles and submarine-launched ballistic missiles. Similarly, Russia made a similar statement after suspending the implementation of the New START Treaty.
In 2009, China and Russia also signed the Sino-Russian Agreement on Notification of Ballistic Missile and Space Launch Vehicles, which was later extended for another 10 years. This mechanism reflects a high level of strategic mutual trust between the two countries, unlike the fear-based missile launch notification mechanism established between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War.
China has always maintained a responsible attitude on the issue of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. China has made it clear that China has always maintained close communication with major countries in the world on arms control and non-proliferation issues. However, the current world pattern is very different from that of the Cold War, and the missile launch notification mechanism between the United States and the Soviet Union is a manifestation of fear and precaution between the two superpowers, while the notification mechanism between China and Russia reflects a high degree of strategic mutual trust between the two sides.
Therefore, if the United States wants to establish a similar mechanism with China, the key is whether the United States can build the same level of strategic trust with China. On the issue of arms control, China's position is undoubtedly responsible, but the attitude of the United States is open to debate.
The behavior of the United States after the collapse of the Soviet Union showed its instability in arms control treaties. In 2002, the United States withdrew from the "ABM Treaty," beginning a series of measures to tear up arms control treaties. Since then, the United States has withdrawn from the INF Treaty and tried to deploy intermediate-range land-based missiles in the Indo-Pacific region to deter China. At the Sino-US arms control consultations held in early November, the United States hyped up the so-called "Chinese nuclear threat."
These moves show the lack of sincerity on the part of the United States in arms control negotiations. The asymmetry between China and the United States in arms control is also obvious: the United States remains the world's largest nuclear power, and its military spending far exceeds that of other countries. On the contrary, China has always adhered to a strategy of self-defense and defense, has no intention of engaging in a nuclear arms race with any country, and has pledged never to be the first to use nuclear weapons.
Therefore, if the United States is serious about pursuing a dialogue with China on arms control, it should show more sincerity rather than relying on agreements that the United States itself does not abide by to fool other countries. These actions of the United States not only demonstrate its hegemonism in the international arena, but also reflect its double-standard behavior in nuclear arms control.
In the current international political landscape, the interaction between China and the United States is not only related to the two countries, but also has an important impact on global peace and stability. Therefore, the establishment of an effective China-US missile launch notification mechanism requires not only mutual trust between the two countries, but also a more responsible behavior of the United States in international relations.
Given the U.S. past behavior on arms control issues, China must be cautious when considering a missile launch notification mechanism with the U.S. China's responsible attitude towards arms control is in stark contrast to US hegemony and double standards. China's military policy has always been defense-oriented, while the United States seems to be more inclined to achieve its global strategic goals through military superiority.
Therefore, if the United States wants to make progress on arms control issues with China, it must show true sincerity, change its hegemonic behavior in international relations, and build a high degree of strategic mutual trust with China. Only on this basis will China and the United States be able to make substantial progress on arms control issues such as the missile launch notification mechanism.
Overall, U.S.-China interaction on arms control issues reflects the complex strategic relationship between the two countries. Although the United States has shown a certain degree of foresight in proposing the idea of establishing a missile launch notification mechanism, it still needs to show more sincerity and a responsible attitude in practical actions.
China's responsible stance on arms control issues stands in stark contrast to US hegemony and double standards, a difference that not only affects mutual trust between the two countries, but also poses a challenge to global peace and stability.