Announcements earlier this week that Russia and China have decided to
work together on a mutual missile detection system to detect inbound US
arms, a move that comes after the latest US ICBM test, is being
presented by Russia as proof of a “special relationship” between the two nations.
Between US long-range tests and the US withdrawing from the Intermediate
Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty and beginning to talk of new developments
of arms on that front, both China and Russia are keenly aware they may
become targets of a US arms race. This mutual danger is bringing them
inevitably closer together.
China, for its part, has also said it wants to join the Arms Trade Treaty to get itself into line with international expectations.
President Trump has vowed to withdraw any US signature to the treaty,
and NRA opposition kept the Senate from ever ratifying it.
The treaty is intended to prevent arms trade fueling war crimes around
the world, which is particularly problematic for the US and its huge
arms trade to Saudi Arabia and other nations with checkered histories.
Russia Touts China ‘Special Relationship’ on Missile Detection System
Concern over US arms is driving major powers closer together
Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.
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