Peking and Moscow spar over nuclear disarmament

June 17, 1982

There was some Sino-Soviet cross fire over the nuclear disarmament issue.

China accused the Soviet Union of paying lip service to the ideal of disarmament while continuing rapid all-around development of its military strength. In Moscow Tass news agency attacked Huang Hua, China's foreign minister, over his comments at the UN arms debate, and said Peking was trying to disarm Moscow and Washington while building up its own nuclear forces. The Tass commentary was the sharpest Soviet criticism of a Chinese leader since President Leonid Brezhnev called for an improvement in bilateral ties during a speech at Tashkent in March.