China, Russia should join US in new nuclear arms control deal: Rubio

Washington will keep pushing China to join a trilateral nuclear control deal with the US and Russia, but can’t compel it to do so, Secretary of State Marco Rubio

said, citing “strategic stability” in China-US relations ahead of US President Donald Trump’s visit to China in April

, despite long-term “irritants”.

“We think ultimately, in the 21st century, for there to be a true arms control agreement, it has to involve China,” Rubio said during a press conference at a meeting of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in Saint Kitts and Nevis on Wednesday.

“They have publicly said they are not willing to do it … But we’ll continue to press on it because we think it would be good for the world if we could reach such an agreement.”

Rubio was referring to Trump’s recent proposal for a new three-way nuclear arms control deal with China and Russia

, which came after the US-Russia New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New Start)

, the world’s last binding nuclear arms treaty, expired on February 5.

Trump has turned down Moscow’s offer to extend New Start for another year, arguing for an “improved” deal that would involve China.