China proposes 'no first use' treaty to nuclear powers
Kyiv • UNN
Nuclear-armed China has proposed to the US, Russia, France, and Great Britain to begin negotiations on a treaty on the mutual non-first use of nuclear weapons. At the same time, Beijing maintains a moratorium on nuclear tests and supports a policy of self-defense.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China noted that China is a responsible state that "possesses nuclear weapons" and maintains a moratorium on nuclear tests. Also, the diplomatic department of the East Asian country proposed that the US, Russia, France, and Great Britain begin new negotiations regarding the current nuclear treaty.
Reports UNN with reference to Newsweek.
Details
China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a new statement during a press briefing, noted that the country possesses nuclear weapons and remains committed to a nuclear policy focused solely on self-defense.
At the same time, China maintains its long-standing moratorium on nuclear tests and supports a policy of no first use of nuclear weapons.
In recent years, China and [the Provisional Technical Secretariat of the CTBTO] have achieved significant results in cooperation in areas such as promoting the certification and adoption of monitoring stations and strengthening capacity building for developing countries.
Beijing proposed that the five recognized nuclear-weapon states – China, the United States, Russia, France, and Great Britain – begin negotiations on a treaty on "mutual no first use."
Reference
China's nuclear arsenal remains much smaller than those of Russia and the United States, but it has expanded rapidly in recent years. The country is modernizing its missile forces and delivery systems to create a "nuclear triad" – strategic deterrence capabilities on land, sea, and air.
According to US Department of Defense estimates, China's arsenal reached approximately 600 warheads in 2024, an increase of approximately 20% from 2024.
A July report by the Washington-based Hudson Institute argued that Beijing's nuclear buildup is less about preparing for nuclear exchanges than about deterring the US and its allies from threatening China's strategic objectives in its region.
Recall
China increased its nuclear arsenal to 500 warheads over the past year. The total number of nuclear weapons in the world continues to grow, especially among countries outside the non-proliferation treaty.