Why fostering a community of shared future on nuclear security matters

ByYuan Sha

Nuclear weapons are the most formidable weapons of mass destruction that pose an existential threat to humanity. Thanks to decades of collaborative efforts, the international community has made remarkable progress on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. Yet, in an era marked by escalating geopolitical tensions and great-power competition, the lingering shadow of nuclear confrontation – even nuclear war – looms large on the horizon.

As a major nuclear state, China is committed to fostering a community with a shared future on nuclear security, and has taken concrete actions to live up to the commitment. In doing so, it sends a powerful message that nuclear security is a collective responsibility of all humanity and offers a viable path forward to safeguarding global strategic stability.

A community of shared future on nuclear security

China's nuclear security concept encapsulates the proposal for "a community of shared future on nuclear security" put forward by Chinese President Xi Jinping at the fourth Nuclear Security Summit in Washington, D.C., the US capital, on April 1, 2016, local time.

This proposal has roots in the Chinese philosophy that the international community shares weal and woe, and that nuclear security is a common pursuit of humanity. In an interconnected world, the impact of nuclear security incidents transcends national boundaries, and no country can address them alone, nor can any country remain aloof. This was tragically demonstrated by the 2011 Fukushima disaster, which released radioactive materials into the atmosphere and ocean, posing grave dangers to human security. Thus, the proposal emphasizes that all nations must collaborate to safeguard humanity from catastrophic nuclear risks.

China has made concrete actions to live up to its commitment. Following a defensive nuclear policy of "no-first-use of nuclear weapons," China is the only nuclear-weapon state that has made an unconditional commitment not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon states or nuclear-weapon-free zones. It has strictly adhered to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and actively supported international nuclear security regimes.

China has also pushed other major nuclear powers to make similar commitments. In January 2022, it pushed for the issuance of the Joint Statement of the Leaders of the Five Nuclear-Weapon States on Preventing Nuclear War and Avoiding Arms Races, reaffirming that "a nuclear war cannot be won, and must never be fought." This move has contributed to building mutual trust and reducing nuclear risks in rising geopolitical tensions, further cementing China's role as a responsible stakeholder committed to safeguarding global strategic stability.

A new reckoning for nuclear security

With heightening geopolitical conflicts around the world, risks of nuclear escalation and proliferation are on the rise.

The ongoing conflict in the Middle East laid bare the nuclear vulnerabilities. The United States and Israel launched military operations against Iran in the name of preventing the country from acquiring nuclear weapons. However, their joint strikes on Iran's Natanz uranium enrichment facility and other nuclear development sites constitute a violation of the Treaty on the NPT and increase the risk of radioactive leakage. In response, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has issued urgent calls for all parties to exercise maximum restraint, warning of the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of further nuclear-related incidents.

The US's double standards on nuclear weapons are also revealed. While maintaining the largest and most advanced nuclear stockpile in the world, the US has also retained the capability to deploy B61-12 strategic nuclear bombs beyond Europe, and has forged the AUKUS pact to facilitate nuclear-powered submarine cooperation, with attempts to entrench its nuclear strike capability in the Asia-Pacific region, which would destabilize the region and set a dangerous precedent of nuclear proliferation.

Adding to this grim reality, the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) is increasing the prospect of autonomous nuclear weapons systems. Cooperation between the US Department of War and AI giants in Silicon Valley is fueling acute concerns about the development of AI-driven nuclear platforms, leaving the world even more exposed to the threat of nuclear catastrophe.

To make matters worse, the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START Treaty), the last remaining legally binding nuclear arms control agreement between the US and Russia, expired earlier this year, removing a critical guardrail against a great-power nuclear arms race. The already fragile international nuclear security architecture is entering a period of heightened uncertainty and strain.

Imperative for collective action

As geopolitical tensions and nuclear risks mount, building a global community of shared nuclear security is not only a moral imperative but also provides a practical path forward for the international community to take collective action.

First of all, by rejecting the zero-sum mindset, it transcends narrow national interests and zero-sum mentality, refrains from nuclear coercion and nuclear threats, in an effort to cultivate a nuclear safety culture at the global level.

Second, by emphasizing a "rational, coordinated and balanced" nuclear safety strategy, it fosters a balanced approach that prioritizes both development and security, recognizing that every nation has the right to the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, while also bearing the responsibility to prevent proliferation.

Last but not least, by calling for stronger international cooperation and more effective global nuclear security governance, it commits to adhering to the NPT and improving the effectiveness and equity of the IAEA, in a joint effort to build a fair, collaborative, and mutually beneficial international nuclear security system.

With these core insights, it is incumbent on all nations to take collective and concrete actions to create a world free from nuclear threats and ensure that the peaceful use of nuclear energy benefits people all over the world.

Yuan Sha, a special commentator for CGTN, is the Deputy Director at Department for Global Governance and International Organization Studies, China Institute of International Studies.