US-Russia START nuclear pact expiresNO GO: Washington wants Beijing to join the pact, but although China said it regrets the expiration of the treaty, it has balked at any restrictions on its growing nuclear arsenalAP, MOSCOWThe last remaining nuclear arms pact between Russia and the US expired yesterday, removing any caps on the two largest atomic arsenals for the first time in more than a half-century. The termination of the New START Treaty could set the stage for what many fear could be an unconstrained nuclear arms race. He has indicated that he wants China to be a part of it — a push Beijing has rebuffed. Then-US president Barack Obama, right, and then-Russian president Dmitry Medvedev sign the New START Treaty at Prague Castle on April 8, 2010. Beijing has balked at any restrictions on its smaller, but growing nuclear arsenal, while urging the US to resume nuclear talks with Russia.

Source: Taipei Times February 05, 2026 16:08 UTC