Original title: US experts said the US should abandon its policy of first using nuclear weapons.
On January 6, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin presided over a regular press conference. A reporter asked: The leaders of the five nuclear-weapon states recently jointly issued a joint statement on preventing nuclear war, which aroused enthusiastic responses from the international community. Some experts and scholars in the United States said that if the five nuclear-weapon states agree that “a nuclear war is neither won nor fought,” then it is logical for the United States to abandon its policy of first using nuclear weapons. In the next step, the Biden administration should promise not to use nuclear weapons first. What is China’s comment?
Wang Wenbin said that China has taken note of relevant reports. China is the only country among the five nuclear-weapon states that has promised not to be the first to use nuclear weapons. This policy plays an important role in reducing nuclear risks and preventing nuclear war, and is universally recognized and welcomed by the majority of non-nuclear-weapon states. China hopes that the five nuclear-weapon states can abandon their nuclear deterrence policy based on the first use of nuclear weapons on the basis of issuing a joint declaration on the prevention of nuclear war, promise not to be the first to use nuclear weapons, and negotiate and conclude an international legal instrument on this. China is willing to continue to actively work towards this end.
Wang Wenbin also said that the international community expects the joint statement of the five nuclear-weapon states to have a positive impact on the results of the US nuclear posture review. It is hoped that the United States will listen to domestic and international calls, effectively reduce the role of nuclear weapons in national security policies, exercise restraint in the building and deployment of strategic forces, and adopt a policy of not using nuclear weapons first. At the same time, I also hope that the relevant US allies can comply with the expectations of the international community and actively support them instead of obstructing the US in every possible way to adopt the above-mentioned policies. (CCTV reporter Zhu Ruomeng Yang Yi)
Related report: Five nuclear-weapon states joint statement, China promotes the inclusion of this article (Observer Network)
Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu emphasized that during the negotiation of the joint statement, China has also promoted the inclusion of important content such as reaffirming that nuclear weapons will not be targeted at each other or any other country, which has played an important role for the five countries to reach a positive and weighty statement. Promoting role.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs website reported on January 3 that the leaders of the five nuclear-weapon states issued a joint statement on preventing nuclear war and avoiding an arms race. The full text is as follows:
The People’s Republic of China, the French Republic, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the United States of America believe that avoiding wars among nuclear-weapon states and reducing strategic risks are our primary responsibility.
We affirm that a nuclear war cannot be won or fought. Given that the use of nuclear weapons will have far-reaching consequences, we also affirm that as long as nuclear weapons continue to exist, they should serve defensive purposes, deter aggression, and prevent war. We firmly believe that the further proliferation of nuclear weapons must be prevented.
We reaffirm the importance of responding to nuclear threats and emphasize the importance of maintaining and complying with our bilateral and multilateral non-proliferation, disarmament and arms control agreements and commitments. We will continue to comply with the obligations of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, including our obligations under Article VI, “on effective measures to stop the nuclear arms race and nuclear disarmament at an early date, Treat a general and complete disarmament treaty and negotiate in good faith.”
We are willing to maintain and further strengthen our respective national measures to prevent the unauthorized or accidental use of nuclear weapons. We reiterate that our previous statement on non-targeting is still valid, and we reiterate that we will not target each other or any other country with nuclear weapons.
We emphasize that we are willing to work with all countries to create a safe environment that is more conducive to the promotion of disarmament. The ultimate goal is to build a nuclear-weapon-free world on the principle that the security of all countries is not compromised. We will continue to look for bilateral and multilateral diplomatic methods to avoid military confrontation, enhance stability and predictability, enhance mutual understanding and trust, and prevent an arms race that is useless and endangers all parties. We are determined to engage in constructive dialogue on the basis of mutual respect and recognition of each other’s security interests and concerns.
In an interview with the media, Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu introduced the significance of the joint statement and China’s efforts, as well as China’s proposal on strengthening global governance in the nuclear field.
Ma Zhaoxu said that at the beginning of the new year, the five nuclear-weapon states of China, Russia, the United States, the United Kingdom, and France jointly issued the “Joint Statement on Preventing Nuclear War and Avoiding an Arms Race”, emphasizing that nuclear wars cannot be won or won, and reiterating that they will not target nuclear weapons. Each other or any other country. This is the first time the leaders of the five countries have issued a statement on the issue of nuclear weapons. It embodies the political will of the five countries to prevent nuclear war. It also voices the common voice of maintaining global strategic stability and reducing the risk of nuclear conflict.
At present, a century of changes in the world and the epidemic of the century are intertwined and superimposed, and the international strategic security field is facing many major challenges. The joint statement issued by the leaders of the five nuclear-weapon states will help increase mutual trust and replace competition among major powers with coordination and cooperation. It is also of positive significance for building an overall stable and balanced relationship between major powers.
Ma Zhaoxu emphasized that China has always been actively advocating the concept of “nuclear wars cannot be won or won”, and has played a strong leading role for the five countries to take joint actions. During the negotiation of the joint statement, China also promoted the inclusion of important content such as reaffirming not to target nuclear weapons at each other or any other country, which played an important role in promoting the five countries to reach a positive and weighty statement.
Ma Zhaoxu said that the five nuclear-weapon states are both permanent members of the UN Security Council and nuclear-weapon states statutory under the NPT. They all bear the common responsibility of preventing nuclear war and maintaining world peace. The five countries should take the joint statement as a new starting point, increase mutual trust, strengthen cooperation, and play an active role in building a world of lasting peace and universal security.
China has always adhered to a nuclear strategy of self-defense, pursued a policy of no first use of nuclear weapons, and maintained its nuclear force at the lowest level required to maintain national security. This in itself is an important contribution to global strategic stability. China will continue to contribute Chinese wisdom to promote global governance in the nuclear field, propose Chinese plans, and is willing to cooperate with all peace-loving countries.
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