Beijing says US exaggerating 'China threat' to expand nuclear arsenal

According to RT (Russia), Mr. Zhao Lijian explained that China's nuclear policy remains consistent and clear, emphasizing that Beijing has always adhered to a policy of no first use of nuclear weapons and has limited the development of strategic arsenals to the minimum level required by national security.

“We have never engaged in any form of arms race,” he said, declaring that China posed no threat or challenge to countries that Beijing hoped would be its development partners.

Meanwhile, Mr. Zhao Lijian noted that the US possesses the world's largest nuclear arsenal and openly puts forward policies of deterrence and preemptive strikes against other countries.

“The United States should seriously reflect on its nuclear policy, abandon its Cold War mentality and hegemonic thinking,” the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said, calling on Washington to “stop disrupting efforts to stabilize global strategic stability” and cut its nuclear arsenal to “create conditions for achieving the ultimate goal of complete and total nuclear disarmament.”

Zhao Lijian’s comments came after the US Department of Defense released its 2022 China Military Power Report on November 29. The report described Beijing as “the most significant and systemic challenge to US national security and the free and open international system.” The report also showed that China could accelerate the modernization of its nuclear forces over the next decade and produce about 1,500 tactical warheads by 2035.

In October, the US also announced its 2022 National Security Strategy. In it, the country considers China as the “greatest geopolitical challenge” and notes that Beijing “intends to shape the international order and has the economic, diplomatic, military and technological power to achieve that goal.”

Beijing has since rejected the accusations, saying the US strategy is driven by a “dominance mindset” and has accused Washington of deliberately distorting its foreign and defense policies.

According to Tin Tuc Newspaper