The Hill News

On January 9, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates traveled to China to revitalize dialogue on military-to-military relations. This week, President Hu of China visits Washington and those discussions continue. On the agenda should be measures to increase the transparency of China’s nuclear arsenal. With the New START treaty ratified by the Senate and pending ratification in the Russian Duma, increased openness from China will be critical to gradually expanding the disarmament process. And while the larger process of disarmament would benefit from increased Chinese transparency, there is little doubt that China would gain as well.

The driving force in US-Russian arms control has been a mantra that transparency fosters predictability and predictability ensures stability. Although challenges in U.S. - Russian relations persist, the New START agreement was signed more by partners than enemies and it extended a policy of openness regarding one another’s nuclear pro! grams. The same should be true for China, which no less than others, is interested in stability in order to secure economic growth. More predictability would enhance China’s security, not diminish it.

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