Beijing – During a briefing on Wednesday, Guo Jiakun, a spokesperson from the Chinese Foreign Ministry, stated that it is “unreasonable and unrealistic” to expect Beijing to participate in nuclear disarmament talks with the United States and Russia, reports 24brussels.
Guo’s remarks followed comments from U.S. President Donald Trump, who indicated that he had discussed nuclear arms control with Russian President Vladimir Putin and expressed a desire for China’s involvement.
How does Beijing justify its nuclear weapons policy?
“The nuclear forces of China and the United States are not at the same level at all, and the strategic security environment and nuclear policies of the two countries are totally different,”
Guo asserted.
“It’s unreasonable and unrealistic to demand that China enter trilateral talks on nuclear disarmament together with Russia and the US,”
He emphasized that Beijing adheres to a no-first-use policy regarding nuclear weapons and pursues a nuclear strategy focused on self-defense, reiterating that China will not engage in an arms race with any nation.
“Countries with the largest nuclear arsenals should earnestly fulfill their special priority responsibilities for nuclear disarmament,”
Guo stated.
How does Trump link denuclearisation to global security goals?
In response to questions from journalists, Trump remarked that denuclearisation is a central goal during his discussions with both Russia and China. He emphasized the urgency of preventing nuclear weapons proliferation and called nuclear arms control a critical global issue.
Trump further warned that if the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) lapses without a replacement, it could lead to significant global risks.
“I think the denuclearisation is a very — it’s a big aim, but Russia is willing to do it, and I think China is going to be willing to do it too. We can’t let nuclear weapons proliferate. We have to stop nuclear weapons. The power is too great,”
Trump commented.
How do the nuclear arsenals of the US, Russia, and China compare?
Unconfirmed reports indicate that Russia possesses approximately 4,300 nuclear warheads, while the U.S. has about 3,700, together accounting for nearly 87% of the world’s nuclear stockpile. In contrast, China is estimated to have around 600 nuclear warheads.
The New START treaty, which addresses limits on these arsenals, is set to expire in February 2026. Experts have raised alarms that without a new agreement, an arms race could be on the horizon.
