Bonnie Jenkins: US ignores China proposal for no-first-use of nukes

Written By: - Date published: 5:47 am, May 19th, 2024 - Comments Off on Bonnie Jenkins: US ignores China proposal for no-first-use of nukes
Categories: AUKUS, China, defence, Diplomacy, Disarmament, Pacific, Peace, us politics - Tags:

Questioned by Maryland Senator Van Hollen regarding US response to China’s February 2024 offer of no-first-use, Assistant Secretary Bonnie Jenkins In testimony to the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee said the US would have to think about it, but at this point had no intention of changing to a no-first use policy.

In her written testimony, Jenkins had blamed China for not responding to US proposals to manage nuclear risk, and for increasing its warhead numbers to 500 (compared with the US’ 6000). Senator Van Hollen’s reasonable question caught her somewhat unprepared. In the end she ruled out any thought that the Chinese proposal could provide an opening to further discussion. Rather ruined her previous line that it was the Chinese who didn’t want to talk.

UnderSecretary Jenkins was in New Zealand in March of this year on a trip to our region to discuss the controversial AUKUS proposal. Her lecture sponsored by Victoria University Strategic Studies Department was called off after protests by students over US support for the mass killings in Gaza.

At the time I drew attention to a report by the influential neocon think-tank The Atlantic Council, advocating the first use of nuclear weapons in the event of the US losing in a war with China over Taiwan. Secretary Jenkins had also addressed them about AUKUS. No wonder Pacific nations are worried about AUKUS nuclearising the Pacific.

It was however good to see that there are some reasonable voices in the US Senate, such as Senator Van Hollum. American peace activists were also there, holding up a silent “blood on their hands” demonstration.

You don’t have to be anti-American to be anti-neocon.

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