Not just tariffs, artificial intelligence and Taiwan. On the day of the meeting between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping at the White House, a new front of tension emerges between the United States and China: nuclear weapons. The US administration has begun confidential talks with Beijing over its rapidly expanding atomic arsenal, raising doubts about compliance with the moratorium on nuclear tests in place since 1996. This was revealed by the Wall Street Journalwhich cites American sources.
The secret talks between the United States and China on nuclear weapons
According to the American newspaper, the discussions took place on the sidelines of multilateral meetings in Geneva, New York and Casablanca, Morocco. During the talks, Washington asked China to respond to accusations that it had secretly conducted very low-intensity nuclear tests.
Silent Drill Platoon Review on the South Lawn. 🇺🇸pic.twitter.com/fgwT3TwvO1
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) September 24, 2026
American protests are not new. Last February, during the Geneva Disarmament Conference, the United States accused Beijing of having carried out a secret nuclear test in June 2020. China rejected the accusations, reiterating its commitment to respect the international moratorium.
The international organization that monitors nuclear tests (CTBTO) specified that two very small seismic events were detected on 22 June 2020, but that the available data does not allow the cause to be established with certainty. There is therefore no independent confirmation of the American accusations.
Trump meets Xi Jinping at the White House: what’s on the table
The revelation comes just as Trump hosts Xi Jinping in Washington for the September 24 summit. It is the second meeting between the two leaders in 2026, following the US president’s visit to China in May.
President Donald J. Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping enter the State Floor of the White House for a historic state visit. 🇺🇸🇨🇳 pic.twitter.com/H3T5FMMr5O
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) September 24, 2026
On the table are trade relations, artificial intelligence, technological restrictions and Taiwan. These dossiers are now joined by the nuclear issue, on which the two powers have already opened a confidential channel of discussion. However, it has not been confirmed that Trump and Xi will personally address the issue during the summit.
Trump and Xi Jinping: “Our competition must not become a clash”
Relaxing tones in the public statements of the two leaders at the White House. Donald Trump celebrated his relationship with Xi Jinping as “a truly great friendship, built on mutual respect”, underlining that the decisions made on security and technology can promote “peace and prosperity for decades”.
The Chinese president called on Washington to keep competition within specific limits: “Our competition must be healthy and contained.” Xi then directly addressed the issue of military security: “Our two armies should maintain regular dialogue and improve communication and crisis prevention mechanisms.”