China has responded to the recent revelation by the New York Times that President Joe Biden approved a new nuclear strategic plan that includes US preparations for a simultaneous nuclear war with Russia, China, and North Korea. The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning, stated that the US is peddling the China nuclear threat narrative and seeking strategic advantage.
Mao expressed serious concern about the report, emphasizing that the US has continuously stirred up the so-called China nuclear threat theory in recent years. She urged Washington to focus on nuclear disarmament and de-escalation instead of hyping fake threats. Mao reiterated China’s policy of no-first-use of nuclear weapons and emphasized that China maintains its nuclear capabilities at a minimum required for national security needs without intentions of engaging in an arms race.
She pointed out the disparity between the US possessing the largest and most advanced nuclear arsenal while adhering to a nuclear deterrence policy based on the first use of nuclear weapons. Mao highlighted that China’s arsenal is significantly smaller compared to the US and Russia. The US has 5,748 warheads, while Russia has 5,580 warheads, with both countries having a significant number awaiting dismantlement.
The US nuclear strategy, updated every four years, remains classified. The latest strategy examines the US’s preparedness to respond to nuclear crises that may occur simultaneously or sequentially with a combination of nuclear and nonnuclear weapons. China continues to advocate for global nuclear disarmament and emphasizes its commitment to maintaining nuclear capabilities for national security purposes only.