U.S. accusations against China in latest report are nothing but fabrications: FM spokesperson

(ECNS) -- Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin urged the U.S. on Monday to stop its self-congratulatory, erroneous finger-pointing, take a long, hard look at its own behavior in arms control, disarmament and nonproliferation, and earnestly address the international community’s legitimate concerns over its compliance issue.

According to media reports on April 15, the U.S. State Department released its report on 2023 Adherence to and Compliance with Arms Control, Nonproliferation, and Disarmament Agreements and Commitments, accusing China of lacking transparency with regard to its nuclear testing activities, pursuing an offensive biological weapons program, proliferating missile technology, among other things.

Year after year, the U.S. concocts the so-called report on Adherence to and Compliance with Arms Control, Nonproliferation, and Disarmament Agreements and Commitments, exalting its own behavior and styling itself as a judge to wantonly criticize and smear other countries’ compliance record, Wang said at a press conference, adding that China firmly rejects it.

The spokesperson pointed out that as a matter of fact, the track record of the U.S. in arms control, disarmament and nonproliferation in recent years has been deplorable. In particular, it remains entrenched in the Cold War mentality, blatantly stokes major-power confrontation, pursues unrestrained military build-up and seeks absolute advantage in the field of security.

"This gravely undermines global and regional strategic stability, and impedes the international arms control, disarmament and nonproliferation process. When it comes to international obligations and multilateral rules, the U.S. practices American exceptionalism and double standards, follows a selective approach dictated by selfish interests, constantly shifts the blame and shirks its responsibility, and even withdraws from treaties and organizations. This falls far short of what is expected of a major country," Wang said.

It needs to be stressed that the U.S. is merely chasing shadows and its accusations against China in this report are nothing but fabrications, he added.

Wang noted that in international arms control and nonproliferation, China is committed to multilateralism and has always upheld the international system with the UN at its core and the international order based on international law and faithfully fulfilled its international obligations and commitments. China has actively participated in the review process of the NPT, the BWC and the CWC, started the domestic procedure to ratify the UN’s Firearms Protocol, and promoted the negotiation process for a legal instrument on arms control in space, he said.

With these concrete steps, China has contributed insight and solution to upholding the international arms control and nonproliferation system and safeguarding world peace, he added.