China's Ministry of National Defence has dismissed recent US allegations of nuclear testing as unfounded and baseless. The ministry's spokesperson, Jiang Bin, made the statement in response to media queries about claims made by US officials. Jiang emphasized that China adheres to a defensive nuclear strategy and maintains a no-first-use policy, committing not to use or threaten nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon states or nuclear-weapon-free zones.
China's nuclear capabilities are kept at a minimum necessary for national security, and it does not participate in a nuclear arms race. The country has been actively engaged in reviewing the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of nuclear weapons and participating in meetings under the mechanism of the five nuclear-weapon states. Jiang criticized the US for undermining international arms control, withdrawing from treaties, and investing heavily in upgrading its nuclear capabilities.
Jiang highlighted several US actions that have weakened global strategic stability, including deploying land-based intermediate-range weapons in the Asia-Pacific, allowing the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty to lapse, and seeking to resume nuclear testing. He urged the US to fulfill its special responsibility for nuclear disarmament by making substantial reductions in its nuclear arsenal and creating conditions for other nuclear-weapon states to participate in disarmament.
The US has been called out for its actions on nuclear disarmament, and rightly so. China's Ministry of National Defence has highlighted the US's failure to uphold its responsibilities, including withdrawing from treaties and investing heavily in upgrading its nuclear capabilities. This has significant implications for global strategic stability, and it's high time the US takes concrete steps to reduce its nuclear arsenal. The US's actions are a clear example of double standards on nuclear non-proliferation, and it's essential that they are held accountable for their actions. As the country with the largest nuclear arsenal, the US must take a leadership role in nuclear disarmament and create conditions for other nuclear-weapon states to follow suit.
