Beijing, Feb 27 (.) Beijing on Friday dismissed Washington’s demand that China participate in a proposed trilateral nuclear arms control negotiation involving the United States and Russia, saying such a move would be neither fair nor practical at this stage.
Responding to remarks by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said China’s nuclear capabilities cannot be compared with those of the two largest nuclear powers.
“China’s nuclear forces are not in the same league as those of the US and Russia,” Mao told reporters in Beijing. “It is neither fair, reasonable, nor realistic to ask China to join the nuclear disarmament negotiations at this stage.”
She reiterated that Beijing has consistently clarified its stance on the issue, stressing that Washington, as a country possessing a vast nuclear arsenal, carries a “special and primary responsibility” to make meaningful progress on nuclear disarmament. According to Mao, advancing disarmament reflects the broad consensus of the international community.
The statement by China came after Washington signalled interest in negotiating a new nuclear control arrangement that would include China, following the expiration of the New START, the last remaining major arms control treaty between the United States and Russia.
Separately, Mao criticised reports that the Pentagon is seeking an additional USD 12.6 billion from Congress to enhance surveillance of China’s military activities, including monitoring submarines and satellites.
“The US is using the so-called ‘China threat’ as a pretext to strengthen its military deployment in the Asia-Pacific,” she said, adding that such moves undermine regional peace and stability and do not serve the interests of countries in the region.
There are reports about a Pentagon document sent to the US Congress outlining plans to step up monitoring of what Washington has described as an “unprecedented” military expansion by China.
The United States has repeatedly accused Beijing of rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal and conducting covert nuclear tests, allegations that China has outrightly denied. . .