National Report on the Implementation of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons by the People’s Republic of China
Currently, the unprecedented changes of the century are accelerating, and the global strategic security landscape is undergoing profound adjustments. Cold War mentality, hegemonic and bullying practices are resurging, with the “law of the jungle” and “gunboat diplomacy” reappearing, exacerbating regional conflicts and arms races. The international arms control and non-proliferation system is being eroded, and global strategic stability faces serious threats. Certain countries, seeking absolute strategic advantage, stoking bloc confrontation, resorting to force at will, and withdrawing from treaties and abandoning commitments, have become the biggest source of chaos disrupting the international order and creating global instability.
China adheres to the path of peaceful development, upholds the common values of humanity, actively promotes the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, and implements the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative, and the Global Governance Initiative to maintain world peace and security and promote global strategic balance and stability. China actively works to improve global security governance and is an important constructive force in advancing the international arms control process. Upholding the concepts of fairness, cooperation, balance, and effectiveness in arms control, China deeply participates in global governance in the field of arms control and will continue to make due contributions to the international arms control cause.
1. In accordance with the requirements of the 2010 Review Conference Action Plan of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (hereinafter referred to as the Treaty), China submits this national report to the Eleventh Review Conference of the Treaty, following the common framework for national implementation reports agreed upon by the five nuclear-weapon States in 2013. The common reporting framework uses shared headings and covers the three pillars of the Treaty: nuclear disarmament, nuclear non-proliferation, and the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
2. China attaches great importance to the cornerstone role of the Treaty in the fields of international nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation, and has made unremitting efforts to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons, advance the nuclear disarmament process, and promote the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. China will continue to practice the concept of common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security through concrete actions, firmly uphold the authority, effectiveness, and universality of the Treaty, and make due contributions to maintaining international peace and security.
3. In accordance with the relevant requirements of the 2000 and 2010 Review Conferences of the Treaty, the Chinese government reports on its implementation of the Treaty as follows:
I. National Measures Related to Nuclear Disarmament
4. The Chinese government has always advocated for the complete prohibition and thorough destruction of nuclear weapons and supports the international community in advancing the goal of nuclear disarmament step by step under the principles of “maintaining global strategic stability” and “undiminished security for all.” China adheres to the policy of no-first-use of nuclear weapons, pursues a self-defensive nuclear strategy, does not engage in nuclear arms races with any country, maximizes nuclear transparency on the basis of not compromising national security, actively promotes measures to reduce nuclear risks, and makes due contributions to achieving the ultimate goal of a nuclear-weapon-free world.
(a) National Security Policies, Guiding Principles, and Activities Related to Nuclear Weapons
5. China’s development of nuclear weapons was a strategic choice made in a special historical period to respond to nuclear threats and blackmail, break nuclear monopoly, and prevent nuclear war. It was not intended to threaten other countries, but for defense and self-protection against the threat of nuclear war. China believes that the special nature of nuclear weapons determines that they are a means of strategic deterrence, and using them as tools of war is unrealistic and extremely dangerous.
6. From the very first day it possessed nuclear weapons, China has advocated for the complete prohibition and thorough destruction of nuclear weapons. In recent years, Chinese leaders have repeatedly reaffirmed these propositions and concepts.
In January 2017, President Xi Jinping stated in a speech at the United Nations Office at Geneva that nuclear weapons are the “Sword of Damocles” hanging over humanity and should be completely prohibited and ultimately thoroughly destroyed to achieve a nuclear-weapon-free world.
In January 2022, with China’s active promotion, the leaders of the five nuclear-weapon states issued a Joint Statement on Preventing Nuclear War and Avoiding Arms Races, reaffirming the concept that “a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought.”
In November 2022, President Xi Jinping pointed out when meeting with the German Chancellor that the international community should jointly oppose the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons and advocate
