Washington urged to stop undermining global stability

Beijing urged Washington on Wednesday to reflect on its nuclear strategy and stop undermining global strategic stability after the United States released a report raising alarm over alleged Chinese accelerated nuclear expansion.

"The US has in recent years been hyping up all kinds of 'China threat theories' to find excuses for expanding its nuclear arsenal and preserving military hegemony," Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said in response to the "2022 China Military Power" report released by the Pentagon on Tuesday.

According to the report, China is expanding its nuclear force and is likely to have a stockpile of about 1,500 warheads by 2035, up from the current estimated number of 400.

Zhao, at a regular news briefing, slammed the allegation as hype, saying that it is a usual tactic of the US and is all too familiar to the world.

Zhao said that the US, as the country with largest nuclear arsenal, has continuously upgraded its "nuclear triad"— its nuclear forces on land, in the sea and in the skies,and placed more importance on the role of nuclear weapons in its national security policy.

"It has stubbornly followed a nuclear deterrence policy, including the first use of nuclear weapons, and even flagrantly made tailored deterrence strategies against certain countries," Zhao added.

He also criticized the US for conducting nuclear submarine cooperation with the United Kingdom and Australia, saying that such moves violate the object and purposes of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

"What the US needs to do is to seriously reflect on its nuclear strategy, abandon the Cold War mentality and stop undermining global strategic stability," Zhao said.

He urged the US to assume its primary and special responsibilities in nuclear disarmament, and further substantially and substantively cut its nuclear arsenal to create conditions for ultimate goal of complete and thorough nuclear disarmament.

Noting that China's nuclear policy is clear and consistent, Zhao said the country firmly follows a self-defensive nuclear strategy and remains committed to the no first use of nuclear weapons.

China exercises utmost restraint in developing nuclear capabilities, which have been kept at the minimum level required to safeguard national security, and never engages in any form of arms race, he added.

In another development, Zhao called on the United Kingdom to view China and China-UK relations in a rational and objective manner after UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, in his foreign policy speech on Monday, called China a "systemic challenge" to British interests and values.

Zhao stressed that China, which follows an independent foreign policy of peace, "is a partner and opportunity for the development of all countries, not a threat or a challenge".

China is committed to developing relations with all countries based on mutual respect, mutual benefit and win-win results and, in the meantime, will resolutely safeguard its sovereignty, security and development interests, he said.