By Zhan Xin

2024 marks the 60th anniversary of the successful explosion of China's first atomic bomb. Sixty years ago, the Chinese government made a solemn declaration that China undertakes not to be the first to use nuclear weapons at any time or under any circumstances. Over the past 60 years, the policy of not using nuclear weapons first has increasingly become an important consensus in the field of international arms control and has been proven conducive to enhancing strategic mutual trust, facilitating the process of nuclear disarmament, effectively reducing strategic risks, and promoting global strategic balance and stability. In recent years, the US and some other countries have spared no efforts to distort and smear China's nuclear policy for geopolitical purposes. However, the false narratives or rumors they created have been shattered by China's 60-year adherence to the policy of no-first-use of nuclear weapons.

China's policy of no-first-use of nuclear weapons is a strategic decision based on its national circumstances and the international security environment. Historically, China has been threatened by nuclear weapons more than once. It is in this context that China announced the development of nuclear weapons as a means of defense, aimed at protecting the Chinese people from the threat of nuclear war. China adheres to a defensive national defense policy, and this determines that its nuclear strategy is defensive in nature. The policy of no-first-use of nuclear weapons fully reflects China's just stance against nuclear war and aligns with the will of people around the world against nuclear war. This stance has greatly enhanced China's international reputation.

To date, China remains the only nuclear weapon state committed to the policy of no-first-use of nuclear weapons. In contrast, the US, which has continuously attacked and smeared China's nuclear policy, is the only country that used nuclear weapons in war. For a long time, the US has relied on a strategy of nuclear deterrence, refusing to give up the option of first-use of nuclear weapons. Whether it is a strategy of containment, massive retaliation, flexible response, preemptive strike, or integrated deterrence, the US emphasized a "first-strike capability" to some degree. Unlike other nuclear weapon states, China has consistently opposed the theory of nuclear deterrence based on the first use of nuclear weapons.

For 60 years, China has consistently upheld its policy of no-first-use of nuclear weapons, adhered to a self-defense nuclear strategy, and refrained from engaging in any form of nuclear arms race with any country. In recent years, the smear campaigns against China's nuclear policy, including rumors that China might abandon its policy of no-first-use of nuclear weapons or expand its nuclear arsenal, have increased. However, the truth is that China has remained steadfast in its policy of no-first-use of nuclear weapons, which is stable, consistent and predictable, for 60 years. China has always maintained its nuclear forces at the minimum level required for national security and will neither engage in nor participate in a nuclear arms race. The US and other countries continue to ignore the facts, smear China's nuclear policy, and manufacture false information about China's nuclear capabilities as a pretext to exaggerate the so-called "China threat," strengthen military alliances, and serve the interests of their own military-industrial complexes.

Not long ago, China once again solemnly proposed that nuclear-weapon states negotiate as soon as possible to conclude a treaty on no-first-use of nuclear weapons or issue a political statement. China made an early commitment not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon states or Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones. In 1994, China submitted the Draft Treaty on No-First-Use of Nuclear Weapons to the other four nuclear-weapon states and since then has been encouraging other nuclear-weapon states to commit to no-first-use of nuclear weapons on a bilateral or multilateral basis. In 2022, the leaders of the five nuclear-weapon states issued the Joint Statement of the Leaders of the Five Nuclear-Weapon States on Preventing Nuclear War and Avoiding Arms Races, affirming the principle that a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought, and reiterating that nuclear weapons are not targeted at each other or at any other state.

At present, the international community is at a new crossroads. China is willing to work with all parties to continue striving for the comprehensive prohibition and complete elimination of nuclear weapons and to achieve the goal of a nuclear-weapon-free world. Nuclear weapons are a "sword of Damocles" hanging over humanity, and they should be completely banned and ultimately eliminated. A nuclear-free world is the only way to meet the common interests of all humans.

(The author is the vice dean of the School of Politics and Law at Northeast Normal University.)

Editor's note: Originally published on huanqiu.com, this article is translated from Chinese into English and edited by the China Military Online. The information and opinions in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of eng.chinamil.com.cn.