Responsibility, consistency, transparency at heart of nuclear policy

China has reaffirmed its nuclear policy features responsibility, consistency, and transparency in a report submitted to the 11th Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, marking its latest effort to take voluntary and transparent measures to enhance mutual trust and build a good atmosphere for the review conference.

Citing the report, Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said on Monday that China is committed to a nuclear strategy that focuses on self-defense and that follows a policy of "no first use" of nuclear weapons, and that the country always keeps its nuclear strength at the minimum level required for national security and will never participate in a nuclear arms race.

All these commitments have injected stability and certainty into the world, he added.

Stressing that China stands firm on safeguarding the authority and effectiveness of the non-proliferation treaty, or NPT, Guo said the report emphasizes that all parties should reaffirm the commitment to the principles of "maintaining global strategic stability" and "undiminished security for all", and take a step-by-step approach in advancing nuclear disarmament.

He said the report calls for a treaty on mutual no-first-use of nuclear weapons, and voluntary discussions on issues related to nuclear transparency and nuclear risks reduction to effectively prevent nuclear wars.

The report also stresses that regional nuclear issues should be addressed peacefully by political and diplomatic means, and the rights of developing countries to peacefully use nuclear energy should be protected, he added.

Noting that China is highly concerned about the challenges the NPT faces, Guo said the report believes that the conference should urge the United States to fulfill its special and primary responsibility for nuclear disarmament, and stop armed attacks on nuclear facilities for peaceful purposes in non-nuclear-weapon states.

He added that the report also calls on the conference to stop building nuclear alliances based on nuclear sharing arrangements, take measures to hold back the negative moves of countries like Japan to possess nuclear weapons, and properly settle the nuclear proliferation risks brought by nuclear submarine cooperation among the US, the United Kingdom, and Australia.

China will participate in the conference in a constructive way, Guo said, adding it is ready to work with all parties to jointly safeguard the authority and effectiveness of the international nuclear non-proliferation regime, and promote world peace and global stability.