BEIJING: A Chinese defense spokesperson on Thursday asked the United States to reduce its nuclear arsenal, cease its proliferation of nuclear technology and materials, and refrain from expanding a nuclear alliance or extending nuclear deterrence.
Spokesperson for China’s Ministry of National Defense, Wu Qian, said that China opposes the United States’ expansion of its nuclear arsenal and shying away from its nuclear disarmament responsibilities.
He said China follows a self-defense nuclear strategy and maintains its nuclear force at the minimum level required for national security.
The official said it is common knowledge that the U.S. is in possession of the largest nuclear arsenal in the world, and that it pursues a nuclear policy that permits the first use of nuclear arms.
He said the U.S. in recent years has heavily invested in the miniaturization of nuclear weapons for real war and exercised double standards on nuclear proliferation, which is a threat to global strategic stability.
