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China urges US to return to compliance with INF, iron out differences with Russia

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lu Kang believes that Moscow’s and Washington’s decision to quit the deal will have an adverse effect on global security

BEIJING, March 5. /TASS/. The United States needs to return to compliance with its commitments under the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty and resolve disagreements with Russia to ensure universal stability and security, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lu Kang said on Tuesday.

"China strongly opposes the United States’ withdrawal from that treaty. We believe that Russia and the US should resolve disagreements as soon as possible and return to [compliance with] the accord," he told reporters at a press briefing.

According to the diplomat, Moscow’s and Washington’s decision to quit the deal will have an adverse effect on global security.

INF issue

The INF Treaty, signed by the Soviet Union and the United States on December 8, 1987, took effect on June 1, 1988. It covers deployed and non-deployed ground-based intermediate range (1,000-5,000 kilometers) and shorter range (500-1,000 kilometers) missiles. The US has accused Russia of violating the accord on numerous occasions, but Moscow has dismissed these allegations, expressing grievances over Washington’s failure to comply with the accord.

On February 1, US President Donald Trump and US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo announced the suspension of Washington’s obligations under the INF starting February 2. Washington is determined to withdraw from the treaty in six months' time unless Russia returns to "real and verifiable" compliance.

On February 2, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Moscow was likewise suspending the agreement. He handed down instructions to refrain from initiating talks with Washington on the issue and stressed that the US needed to show willingness for an equal and substantive dialogue.