Chinese voices opposition to US suspension of Cold War-era pact with Russia
Tehran (KNA) - China has opposed a US decision to suspend a landmark Cold War-era nuclear arms control treaty with Russia, a move which prompted Moscow to give a tit-for-tat response.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang in a statement on Saturday urged Washington and Russia to hold "constructive" discussions about the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF).
"China is opposed to the US withdrawal and urges the US and Russia to properly resolve differences through constructive dialogue," the statement read.
Elsewhere in the statement, Geng warned that the US decision could trigger "a series of negative consequences." He also echoed warnings by both Russia and Europe that a pullout might lead to a new arms race.
This comes after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced Friday that Washington would suspend the INF for 180 days and would fully withdraw from it later if Moscow did not stop what he called "violations" of the treaty.
Source: PressTV