Disarmament must include China: Merkel

China must be involved in international disarmament efforts, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said yesterday, amid rising concern about Beijing’s missile arsenal and the suspension of a key US-Russia arms treaty.

“Disarmament is something that concerns us all and where we would, of course, be glad if such talks were held not just between the United States, Europe, and Russia but also with China,” said Merkel.

The United States began pulling out of a landmark Cold War missile control agreement with Russia, the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, this month in response to Moscow’s deployment of the 9M729 missile, prompting Russia to announce its own withdrawal.

While pointing the finger at each other, both Washington and Moscow have also voiced concern that the INF -- a bilateral treaty between the US and Russia -- does nothing to constrain rapidly growing military power China.