Beijing raises concerns over U.S. considering China as a nuclear threat

Beijing raised serious concerns after Washington reportedly approved a secret nuclear strategy refocusing on the so-called China threat, saying the United States is, in fact, the biggest creator of strategic risks of the global nuclear threat.

According to the New York Times, U.S. President Joe Biden approved in March a highly classified nuclear strategic plan for the U.S. that, for the first time, reorients its deterrent strategy to focus on China's rapid expansion in its nuclear arsenal.

The U.S. has, in recent years, continuously hyped up the so-called China nuclear threat theory, which is merely an excuse for shirking its nuclear disarmament responsibilities, expanding its nuclear arsenal, and seeking excuses for overwhelming strategic advantages, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told a daily news briefing on Wednesday.

Emphasizing that China's nuclear arsenal is not on the same scale as that of the U.S., Mao said China adheres to a policy of no-first-use of nuclear weapons and maintains a nuclear strategy of self-defense.

China has always kept its nuclear capabilities to a minimum required for national security needs with no intention to engage in any arms race with any country, the spokeswoman said.

Instead, the U.S., possessing the largest and most advanced nuclear arsenal, stubbornly adheres to a nuclear deterrence policy based on the first use of nuclear weapons, Mao said.

It also continuously invests significant resources in upgrading its triad of nuclear forces and openly develops tailored nuclear deterrence strategies for other countries, she added.

Mao urges the U.S. to earnestly assume its special and primary responsibilities toward nuclear disarmament, and drastically and substantively reduce its nuclear stockpile.

Washington should cease negative activities that undermine global and regional peace and stability, such as nuclear sharing, extended deterrence, and expanding nuclear alliances, said the spokeswoman.