In response to comments made by U.S. President Donald Trump regarding potential discussions on denuclearization with Russian and Chinese leaders, China has firmly reiterated its long-standing position on the issue of nuclear arms control.
When asked by RIA Novosti whether the United States and China had indeed discussed the matter and if there had been any change in China’s stance on trilateral nuclear talks, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning made it clear that China’s position remains unchanged.
Mao stated that China’s nuclear capabilities are not on the same scale as those of the United States or Russia, emphasizing that it would be “unfair, unreasonable, and unrealistic” to expect China to join trilateral nuclear disarmament negotiations at this stage. She reaffirmed that China has consistently maintained this view in previous discussions and public statements.
Highlighting the vast differences in nuclear stockpiles between China and the two major nuclear powers, Mao Ning pointed out that the United States possesses the world’s largest nuclear arsenal. She urged Washington to “earnestly fulfill its special and primary responsibility for nuclear disarmament,” stressing that the U.S. should take the lead by making “drastic and substantive cuts” to its own nuclear weapons before expecting other nations to join in similar discussions.
China’s stance aligns with its broader approach to global arms control, advocating for gradual, verifiable, and equitable disarmament led by the largest nuclear powers. According to Beijing, the U.S. and Russia—who together hold over 90 percent of the world’s nuclear warheads—must first make substantial progress before involving smaller nuclear-armed states.
While President Trump recently expressed optimism about discussions on denuclearization with both Moscow and Beijing, China’s latest remarks make clear that it does not see itself as an equal participant in such trilateral talks. Instead, Beijing continues to emphasize its defensive nuclear strategy, minimal deterrence posture, and commitment to avoiding an arms race.
With tensions rising globally over nuclear modernization and deterrence strategies, China’s rejection of immediate participation in U.S.-led disarmament talks underscores the ongoing divide between major powers on how best to achieve long-term nuclear stability.
Disclaimer:
This article is based on official statements from the Chinese Foreign Ministry and public remarks by President Donald Trump. The views expressed reflect the positions of the respective governments at the time of reporting.
