China Rejects Claims of Engaging in Nuclear Arms Race

A senior Chinese arms control official, Shen Jian, has firmly asserted that China is not partaking in a nuclear arms race, urging the United States to cease its “misrepresentation” of China’s nuclear policy. Speaking at a committee meeting on Friday, Shen, who serves as China’s ambassador for disarmament affairs, emphasized that China has “not, and will not, engage in a nuclear arms race.”

Shen reiterated China’s commitment to a no-first-use policy, explaining that maintaining a level of ambiguity regarding its nuclear capabilities is crucial for ensuring the survivability of its limited nuclear forces. “As long as no country uses nuclear weapons against China, it will not face a nuclear threat from China. This is the most meaningful form of transparency,” he stated.

He criticized the United States for possessing the largest and most advanced nuclear arsenal while adhering to a policy of preemptive nuclear strikes. Shen characterized the U.S. approach to nuclear transparency as merely a “muscle show” that fails to enhance the safety of other nations.

Shen insisted that China has maintained its nuclear forces at the minimum necessary level for national security and will continue to do so. However, he noted that modernization of these forces is essential to ensure their safety, reliability, and survivability in light of a deteriorating external security environment. He highlighted concerns over other countries developing global missile defense systems that impact strategic stability.

Furthermore, he called on the U.S. to acknowledge China’s long-standing adherence to a no-first-use policy, which has remained stable and consistent for 60 years. Shen recently reiterated China’s proposal for nuclear-armed states to negotiate a “No First Use Treaty” or issue a joint political statement on the matter.

In addition to addressing U.S. perceptions, Shen underscored China’s commitment to engaging in arms control and nonproliferation dialogues globally, including with the U.S. He noted China’s role as the current coordinator of the P5 mechanism, actively promoting dialogue among the five nuclear-weapon states.

Shen criticized the U.S. for projecting its belief that “power inevitably seeks dominance” onto China and highlighted America’s withdrawal from various arms control treaties over the past two decades as detrimental to the international arms control regime.