BEIJING, July 27 -- "US and NATO are the biggest source of risks and uncertainties undermining international peace and security", said Senior Colonel Tan Kefei, spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense, at a regular press conference on Thursday.
According to the media reports, NATO Vilnius Summit recently claimed in its Communiqué that China was rapidly expanding and diversifying its nuclear arsenal but failed to engage in meaningful transparency. NATO Secretary-General also expressed concerns about China's significant military buildup and nuclear expansion.
"NATO, as a military bloc that is in possession of the world's largest nuclear arsenal and upholds the policy of 'first use of nuclear weapons', has been constantly hyping up the so-called 'China nuclear threats'", said Defense Spokesperson Snr. Col. Tan, noting that this behavior has laid bare its vicious intentions under broad daylight.
He also indicated public information showed that the US had deployed over 100 nuclear weapons in relevant European countries, which had seriously intensified the risks of global nuclear proliferation and conflict.
"In the field of arms control, the US has frequently withdrawn from treaties and organizations, made huge investments in upgrading its nuclear triad to reinforce the so-called 'extended deterrence', worked with the UK and Australia in nuclear submarine development, and has recently indulged in Japan's plan to discharge nuclear contaminated water into the sea against the whole world's opposition. Facts have proved over and over again that the US and NATO are the biggest source of risks and uncertainties undermining international peace and security", added Tan.
Regarding to such misleading remarks and malicious slanders, the spokesperson stated that China has been steadfastly upholding a self-defensive nuclear strategy and sticking to the policy of no-first-use of nuclear weapons, and has been keeping the nuclear force at the minimum level required by national security.
Tan stressed that NATO should abandon the outdated Cold War mentality, stop fabricating false narratives, take concrete actions to diminish the role of nuclear weapons in its national and collective security policies, and truly preserve global strategic stability.
