New Delhi, Jan. 9 -- Beijing rejects inclusion in trilateral nuclear negotiations, urges the US to lead by cutting its own arsenal

WASHINGTON - China has firmly rejected calls from Washington for Beijing to join nuclear arms reduction talks alongside the United States and Russia, calling such demands unreasonable and disconnected from strategic reality.

The position was outlined by Liu Pengyu, spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, in comments made to RIA Novosti, as renewed pressure mounts from the US for expanded negotiations following the erosion of arms control agreements that once defined strategic stability.

"Calling on China to join nuclear disarmament talks with the United States and Russia is unreasonable," Liu Pe...