China, France, Russia, the UK and the US issued a joint statement on preventing nuclear war and avoiding arms races on January 3, which states they “consider the avoidance of war between Nuclear-Weapon States and the reduction of strategic risks” as their “foremost responsibility.”
“We affirm that a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought. As nuclear use would have far-reaching consequences, we also affirm that nuclear weapons – for as long as they continue to existshould serve defensive purposes, deter aggression, and prevent war,” read the statement, adding that the five Nuclear-Weapon States promise to “preserve and comply with bilateral and multilateral non-proliferation, disarmament, and arms control agreements and commitments” and not to target their nuclear weapons at each other or at any other state.
It is the first joint statement on nuclear weapons from the five nations, which is of great significance to safeguarding global strategic stability and building a stable and balanced relationship between big countries, said China’s Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu.
At a press conference the same day, Ma reiterated that China’s nuclear strategy is for defensive use and China will never be the first to use nuclear weapons.
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