Ministry of National Defense: The U.S. should earnestly fulfill its special priority responsibility for nuclear disarmament.

On the afternoon of March 26, the Ministry of Defense held a routine press conference, where Senior Colonel Jiang Bin, Deputy Director of the Ministry of Defense’s News Bureau and spokesperson, answered questions from reporters. Reporter: The U.S. Assistant Secretary of State stated that China allegedly conducted an underground nuclear test in 2020. The U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy claimed that China is conducting explosive nuclear tests and is “attempting to cover it up.” What is your comment on this? Jiang Bin: The remarks are purely a distortion and smear, intended to confuse the public. It is well known that China adheres to a nuclear strategy of self-defense, follows a no-first-use policy on nuclear weapons, and unconditionally commits not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon states and nuclear-weapon-free zones. China has always maintained its nuclear capabilities at the minimum level required for national security and does not engage in a nuclear arms race with any country. China has actively participated in the review process of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and the meetings of the five nuclear powers, maintaining dialogue with all parties on nuclear arms control issues. The U.S., in pursuit of absolute security advantages, has no qualms about undermining international arms control consensus, wantonly breaking agreements and withdrawing from treaties, investing heavily to upgrade its “triad” nuclear forces, building the global missile defense system, deploying land-based intermediate-range missiles and other weaponry in the Asia-Pacific region, allowing the New START treaty to expire, seeking to resume nuclear tests, and applying double standards on nuclear non-proliferation, which seriously impacts global strategic balance and stability. As the super nuclear power with the largest nuclear arsenal, the U.S. urgently needs to fulfill its special and priority responsibility for nuclear disarmament and significantly reduce its nuclear arsenal to create conditions for other nuclear states to join the nuclear disarmament process. (CCTV News)