Beijing announced on Wednesday that it is “unreasonable and unrealistic” to ask the country to participate in nuclear disarmament negotiations with the United States and Russia.
Guo Jiakun, spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, made the remarks following statements by U.S. President Donald Trump, who said he had discussed nuclear arms control with Russian President Vladimir Putin and wanted China to be involved as well.
“China’s and the United States’ nuclear forces are not at all on the same level, and the strategic security environment and nuclear policies of the two countries are completely different,” Guo emphasized.
He added that China follows a no-first-use nuclear policy and a self-defense strategy, stressing that Beijing will not engage in an arms race with any other country.
“Countries with the largest nuclear arsenals must diligently fulfill their special priority responsibilities for nuclear disarmament,” the Chinese spokesperson said.
Trump, for his part, told reporters that denuclearization is a very important goal, adding that Russia is ready and that China would also be willing to participate. “We have to stop nuclear weapons. The power is very great,” the U.S. president said.
Meanwhile, Malaysia’s Foreign Minister announced last month that China will sign a Southeast Asian treaty banning nuclear weapons in the region once the documentation is ready.
