"That step they have taken is unfortunate," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters.

"China has chosen to follow Russia's lead in asserting that engagement on arms control can't proceed when there are other challenges in the bilateral relationship," Miller said.

"We think this approach undermines strategic stability. It increases the risk of arms race dynamics."

The United States and China in November held rare talks on nuclear arms control, part of a bid to ease mistrust ahead of a summit between Presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping.

Further dialogue had not been publicly announced since, with a White House official in January urging Beijing to respond "to some of our more substantive ideas on risk reduction."

Earlier Wednesday, China's foreign ministry said recent US sales of arms to self-ruled Taiwan were "seriously undermining the political atmosphere for continued arms control consultations between the two sides."

The United States switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979 but it has remained Taiwan's most important partner and biggest arms supplier, sparking repeated condemnations from China.

"Unfortunately, by suspending these consultations, China has chosen not to pursue efforts that would manage strategic risks and prevent costly arms races," Miller said.