China proposes the U.S. cut nuclear arsenals ‘to preserve world peace and security’ during UN-backed conference

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Jun 11, 2021

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke Friday at the Conference on Disarmament in Beijing, recommending that the United States and Russia cut their nuclear arsenals. The United Nations recognizes the conference as a single multilateral disarmament negotiating forum for the international community.

Without naming them. Wang pointed to the U.S. and Russia as the focal point for disarmament as he addressed the conference of 65 nations. “The two largest nuclear-weapon States should further slash their nuclear arsenals in a verifiable, irreversible and legally binding manner to create conditions for the multilateral nuclear disarmament process,” Wang said.

Meanwhile, China is the fifth largest nuclear-weapon country. The United States is number one, followed by Russia, the United Kingdom and France. Just Wednesday, top Republican lawmakers wrote a letter to President Biden warning him that China is engaging in a nuclear build-up that could soon near “nuclear parity” with the U.S.

“Advancing international arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation processes is an important means to preserve world peace and security,” Wang said. He also implied that if the U.S. and Russia cut their arsenals, other nations would follow.

“A nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought,” Wang said.

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