China on Tuesday called on the United States to fulfil its nuclear disarmament responsibilities, responding to a draft report by the U.S. Department of War that claimed Beijing has likely deployed more than 100 intercontinental ballistic missiles and is unwilling to engage in arms-control talks.
A spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry said the United States, as the country with the world’s largest nuclear arsenal, must take urgent steps to reduce its stockpile and create conditions for other nuclear-armed nations to pursue disarmament. The spokesperson also stressed that China does not engage in nuclear arms races with any country.
“As the superpower with the largest nuclear arsenal, the United States must, as a matter of urgency, earnestly fulfil its special responsibility in nuclear disarmament, take steps to significantly reduce its nuclear arsenal, and create conditions for other nuclear-weapon states to join the disarmament process,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian.
Lin Jian added that China firmly adheres to its policy of not being the first to use nuclear weapons, maintains a defensive nuclear strategy, and keeps its nuclear capabilities at the lowest level necessary for national security. He noted that China actively participates in the review processes of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and the Nuclear-Weapon States mechanism meetings, maintaining dialogue with all parties on nuclear arms control issues.
The remarks come amid a U.S.-based research group’s claims that China is rapidly expanding and modernising its nuclear arsenal. Beijing has dismissed such reports, calling them attempts to smear China and mislead the international community.
Photo: Representational
