"China opposes any incidents of anybody speaking on China's behalf and will not participate in any talks on a trilateral agreement on nuclear disarmament", spokesman Geng Shuang said."
US President Donald Trump told reporters on Friday that he would soon launch bilateral talks with Russia on a new nuclear arms control deal that could see both sides reduce their arsenals, adding that the negotiations could eventually be expanded to include China.
In April, the US president indicated his intention to negotiate a major nuclear arms control deal with Russia and China, saying such a treaty should include "all the weapons, all the warheads, all the missiles" in the countries' respective arsenals.
The Kremlin welcomed Washington's move and asked to provide details about the proposal.
READ MORE: Russia Ready to Extend New START, But Future of Treaty in Doubt — Antonov
The tensions between Russia and the United States were exacerbated by President Donald Trump's February announcement that the US would be unilaterally withdrawing from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, citing alleged violations by Russia. Moscow has repeatedly denied the allegations, pointing out that the US was the party actually violating the treaty.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov previously stated that the INF's collapse could cast a shadow over the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty's (New START) extension.