China opposes US fabrication of pretexts for its resumption of nuclear tests

BEIJING, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- China's foreign ministry on Wednesday said that the U.S. accusation of Chinese nuclear explosive tests is completely groundless, and that China opposes the United States' fabrication of pretexts for its own resumption of nuclear tests.

Responding to a relevant query at the ministry's press briefing, spokesperson Lin Jian said that the U.S.'s persistent distortion and slander of China's nuclear policy essentially constitute political manipulation, through which the United States aims to pursue nuclear hegemony and evade its own nuclear disarmament responsibilities.

"China firmly opposes this," Lin said, stressing that the United States is the biggest source of disruption to both the international nuclear order and global strategic stability.

Lin noted that by allowing the New START Treaty to expire without renewal, the United States has severely undermined mutual trust among major countries and shaken global strategic stability.

The U.S. clings to the policy of first use of nuclear weapons, has spent trillions of dollars to upgrade its nuclear triad, and has been working to build a global anti-missile system and establish the forward deployment of its strategic assets, Lin said.

The country applies double standards when it comes to nuclear non-proliferation, seriously disrupting global strategic balance and stability, and undermining international and regional peace and security, he said.

Sitting on an enormous nuclear arsenal, the U.S. should fulfill its special and primary responsibility of nuclear disarmament, Lin said, stressing that this is the international consensus.

"On New START, China has made clear its position on multiple occasions. We hope the U.S. will resume dialogue with Russia on strategic stability to discuss the arrangements beyond the treaty's expiration, which is what the world would hope to see," he said.

China urges the U.S. to renew the commitment of the five nuclear-weapons states to a moratorium on nuclear testing, uphold the global consensus on the ban on nuclear testing, and take concrete actions to safeguard the international nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation regime, Lin said.

"China is committed to peaceful development, follows a nuclear strategy that focuses on self-defense, and maintains long-term consistency in its nuclear policy. We will continue playing a constructive role in safeguarding international peace and security," the spokesperson said.