Chinese Foreign Ministry: "If the US reduces nuclear weapons as much as China, it will participate in US-Russia nuclear arms reduction"

The Dongfeng-41 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) possessed by China [Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The Chinese government has stated that it is willing to participate in the ongoing negotiations between the United States and Russia to extend the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), which began at the end of last month, if the U.S. agrees to reduce its nuclear arsenal to the same number as China’s. However, China has once again strongly rejected U.S. pressure to join the New START talks, signaling a deepening conflict between the U.S. and China.

According to Russia’s TASS news agency, on the 8th, Fu Kong, Director of the Arms Control Department at China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said at a briefing, "If the United States agrees to reduce its nuclear weapons to the same number as China’s, China will participate in the New START talks starting the very next day. However, we know that the U.S. is unlikely and practically unable to make such a choice." He strongly rejected the U.S. pressure for China to join the New START treaty extension negotiations that began last month between the U.S. and Russia.

According to data released by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) in January of this year, Russia officially possesses 6,500 nuclear warheads, the U.S. has 5,800, and China has 320. Based on this official data, China argues that its nuclear warhead count is only about one-twentieth that of the U.S., and therefore it cannot be included in the New START treaty extension negotiations.

Director Fu Kong criticized, "The United States is increasing the risk of nuclear war by developing low-yield nuclear warheads. We are observing how the U.S. is expanding its nuclear arsenal and developing low-yield nuclear weapons that can be used as tactical weapons. The U.S. must provide assurance that it will not engage in nuclear war and first explain to the world why it is not pursuing nuclear disarmament."