US State Department senior official said the US would resume nuclear tests to match 'opaque' Chinese activity and flagged new details about a 2020 test the US recently accused China of secretly conducting, according to SCMP

The US State Department's announcement regarding a potential resumption of nuclear tests signals a significant escalation in the geopolitical landscape, particularly in response to perceived threats from China.

Newsquawk StaffPublished 18 Feb 2026, 01:00 UTCOn the live feed at 00:40 UTC — 3 more headlines followed before this page went public

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US State Department senior official said the US would resume nuclear tests to match 'opaque' Chinese activity and flagged new details about a 2020 test the US recently accused China of secretly conducting, according to SCMP

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Context

This move could heighten tensions in the region and lead to volatility in related assets, with increased interest in safe-haven currencies and commodities such as gold, as markets react to the prospect of a renewed arms race.

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