China backs ‘no first use’ nuclear policy, calls on nations to cut warhead stockpile

Recent statement by former Chinese ambassador for disarmament suggests Beijing should rethink ‘no first use’ policy to counter US military presence in region

Position paper marks 50th anniversary of Beijing being awarded UN seat representing China over Taipei

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“Position Paper on China and United Nations Cooperation” lays out aspects of China’s position on nuclear weapons – its own policies and what it seeks from other nations. (Xinhua/Wang Kai)

Published: 11:00pm, 22 Oct 2021Updated: 4:40am, 23 Oct 2021

China has underlined its “no first use” nuclear policy in a position paper amid discussion over its commitments in a developing nuclear arms race.

In the “Position Paper on China and United Nations Cooperation” issued by the foreign ministry on Friday, China declared it had a history of initiating the no first use (NFU) principle, and said nuclear-weapon states should abandon pre-emptive deterrence policies.

“Bear in mind that ‘a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought’,” the paper said.

It called on all nuclear powers to reduce the role of nuclear weapons as part of their national security policy, stop developing and deploying global anti-ballistic missile systems and cease deployment of land-based intermediate-range ballistic missiles overseas. It called on them to promote global strategic balance and stability.

Last month, former Chinese ambassador for disarmament affairs to the UN in Geneva, Sha Zukang, said China should review its policy of not being the first to use a nuclear weapon in a conflict.

China pledged the NFU policy – to not be the first to use nuclear weapons at any time or under any circumstance – in 1964 when it first gained nuclear capability.

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