Published: 19:34, January 5, 2021 | Updated: 06:07, June 5, 2023
China urges US to commit to no-first-use nuclear weapons policy
By Xinhua

This undated file photo shows Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying. (PHOTO / WWW.FMPRC.GOV.CN)

BEIJING - A foreign ministry spokesperson on Tuesday called on the United States to follow China in committing to a policy of no-first-use of nuclear weapons, and to cut its nuclear weapons drastically on the basis of extending the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty.

"Among the five nuclear powers, China is the only country pursuing the policy of no-first-use of nuclear weapons, and this policy will not be changed. We hope the US can make the same commitment as China does as soon as possible," spokesperson Hua Chunying said at a daily press briefing.

"Can the US make this commitment publicly?" she continued.

Foreign Ministry spoeksperson Hua Chunying said the "lie diplomacy" of US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and the US State Department has had a tremendous and terrible influence on the credibility and image of the United States

Hua's comments came after the US Department of State released an article titled "China's Nuclear Madness," accusing China of allowing no transparency in its growing nuclear arsenal.

Hua said the "lie diplomacy" of US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and the US State Department has had a tremendous and terrible influence on the credibility and image of the United States.

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"It is widely known that the US has the largest and most advanced nuclear arsenal," she said. "But the Trump administration has seriously undermined global strategic security and stability by evading its special responsibility in nuclear disarmament, wantonly pulling out of treaties and organizations, spending trillions of dollars upgrading its nuclear arsenal, and lowering the threshold of using nuclear weapons."

The international community has a fair conclusion on who is pursuing nuclear madness, Hua said, urging the US side to stop smearing China and acting like a thief crying "stop thief."

China adheres to a national defense policy that is defensive in nature, and always keeps its nuclear capabilities at the minimum level required for its national security, the spokesperson said.

China also maintains the policy of no-first-use of nuclear weapons at any time and under any circumstances, and unconditionally commits itself to not using or threatening to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon states or nuclear-weapon-free zones, said Hua.

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"We urge the US side to respond positively to Russia's call and agree to extend the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty as soon as possible, and further reduce its nuclear weapons drastically on this basis," Hua said.

Arctic Region

Meanwhile, China on Tuesday rebuked Pompeo's criticism of its Arctic activities, saying his remarks on Twitter run counter to the general trend of peace and cooperation in the Arctic region.

The current Arctic situation is characterized by peace and cooperation, Hua said. With climate change and Arctic ice melting, the issues of environmental protection and sustainable development in the Arctic will become increasingly prominent and require cooperation of all parties concerned.

"China is one of the countries near the Arctic," Hua said, noting this is an undeniable fact, and the trans-regional and global issues in the Arctic are closely related to China.

China attaches great importance to the sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction of Arctic nations in the Arctic, and is willing to make positive contributions to peace, stability and sustainable development in the region, Hua said. 

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Furthermore, relevant parties should also respect the rights and freedoms of countries outside the Arctic to carry out activities in the Arctic in accordance with the law and respect the overall interests of the international community in this region, the spokesperson said.