Certainty in an uncertain world: China's commitment to NPT

As the international community gathers in New York at the 11th Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, the global nuclear order stands at a critical juncture: the authority and universality of the NPT — the very bedrock of the international nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime — are facing unprecedented challenges.

Action speaks louder than rhetoric. China has submitted its National Report on the Implementation of the NPT. The document is not merely a procedural obligation. It is a comprehensive review of China's commitment to global strategic stability. It serves as a testament to China's role not just as a signatory, but as a pragmatic guardian of the treaty's three pillars.

Nuclear disarmament: The anchor of strategic stability

While others expand their arsenals for "war-fighting" scenarios, China's report underscores its adherence to a nuclear strategy of self-defense. China's nuclear force is maintained at the minimum level required for national security. The report provides tangible proof of such restrained attitude: China has conducted the fewest nuclear tests and has shut down some of its nuclear weapon research and production facilities. In March 2026, a group of diplomatic representatives from nearly 20 countries visited the decommissioned 816 nuclear facility in Chongqing, a project 85 percent complete before its suspension, which is a clear example of China's determination to restrain the development of nuclear forces.

Furthermore, China has actively promoted the "Five Nuclear-Weapon States (P5) Process," culminating in the historic Joint Statement on Preventing Nuclear War and Avoiding Arms Races. 

Genuine transparency and confidence-building lie not just in revealing sensitive data but more importantly in concrete policies that reduce the role of nuclear weapons and the risks of miscalculation.

Nuclear non-proliferation: A rule of law approach

China translates its non-proliferation commitments into a robust legal architecture. The Atomic Energy Law, which entered into force in January 2026, explicitly stipulates opposition to and prohibition of all forms of nuclear proliferation. This complements China's Export Control Law and other relevant regulations, establishing a "whole-process" control system to ensure that any nuclear-related export is exclusively for peaceful purposes and under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards.

Crucially, the report voices China's firm opposition to actions that erode the non-proliferation regime, such as the AUKUS nuclear submarine cooperation, which poses severe proliferation risks. China also firmly opposes the politicization of safeguards and the use of non-proliferation as a pretext for "decoupling" or suppressing the legitimate technological development of other nations.

The report also stresses that all countries should reject the practice of utilitarianism and double standards, and resolve proliferation concerns peacefully through political and diplomatic means within the framework of the current international law.

Peaceful uses: A driver of global development

China views nuclear energy as a pivotal engine for clean energy transition and sustainable development. As of December 2025, China leads the world in the scale and pace of nuclear power construction, with its independently developed third-generation Hualong-1 technology achieving large-scale deployment. The application of nuclear technology generates an annual output value exceeding 300 billion yuan and benefits wide areas, including agriculture, medicine, industry, public security, etc.

China is firmly committed to making these benefits globally inclusive. As the second-largest contributor to the IAEA Technical Cooperation Fund, China has provided about $130 million and trained thousands of professionals for developing countries. It has opened up and shared 12 nuclear research facilities and experimental platforms with countries of the Global South and the wider world. It also assisted countries, including Ghana and Nigeria, in converting their research reactors from high-enriched to low-enriched uranium fuel — a tangible step to mitigate proliferation risks while supporting local development.
These actions position China as a steadfast provider of global public goods in the nuclear field.

Charting the future: Global Security Initiative

Four years ago, China put forward the Global Security Initiative, which champions a vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security. The GSI recognizes a fundamental truth: security is indivisible, and lasting stability cannot be built upon the insecurity of others.

The challenges facing the NPT are symptoms of a fractured security mindset; the GSI offers the remedy.

As the international community tries to navigate the divisions and complexities of the review conference, China will continue to implement the visions and principles of GSI, and urge all parties to embrace dialogue, constructiveness and cooperation, to ensure the nuclear genie remains firmly in the bottle and safeguard peace for generations to come.

Hua Gesheng is a commentator on international and multilateral affairs, writing regularly for Xinhua News Agency, Global Times, China Daily, CGTN, etc.

The views don't necessarily reflect those of China Daily.

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