According to the report, an earthquake with a magnitude of 2.75 occurred 750 kilometers from the Chinese test site at Lop Nur, and Christopher Yeo claims that these tremors were most likely caused by an underground explosion. "This is nothing like a typical earthquake. This is exactly what you would expect from a nuclear test," he added. Christopher Yeo, who holds a PhD in nuclear engineering and has experience in intelligence, emphasizes that China has taken measures to conceal its test by using a technique of detonating the device in a large underground chamber to reduce the amplitude of shock waves.
However, the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization, which is tasked with detecting nuclear explosions, stated that it does not have enough information to confirm Yeo's claims.
A representative of the Chinese embassy in Washington described the accusations against China as "absolutely groundless," asserting that the U.S. is trying to create excuses to resume its own testing. "This is a political manipulation aimed at establishing nuclear hegemony and evading its own commitments to nuclear disarmament," commented embassy representative Liu Pengyu in an email, urging the U.S. to reaffirm its commitments to refrain from nuclear testing.
Additionally, U.S. President Donald Trump continues to pressure China to agree to participate in negotiations alongside the U.S. and Russia to replace the New START treaty, which expired on February 5.
