China refutes U.S. claims of nuclear expansion

(ECNS) -- China on Tuesday rejected a U.S. assessment saying China has loaded more than 100 intercontinental ballistic missiles across its latest three silo fields and has no desire for arms control talks.

Washington uses such claims to justify upgrading its own nuclear forces and undermining global strategic stability, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a press conference.

"The international community needs to be soberly aware that the U.S., as a nuclear superpower sitting on the world's biggest nuclear arsenal, must fulfill its special and primary responsibility for nuclear disarmament, further make drastic and substantive cut to its nuclear arsenal, and create conditions for other nuclear-weapon states to join the nuclear disarmament process. This should be a high priority for the U.S.," Lin said.

The spokesperson added that just last month, the Chinese government released a white paper entitled "China's Arms Control, Disarmament and Non-Proliferation in the New Era" with a full overview of China's nuclear policy and position on nuclear disarmament.

"China remains firmly committed to the policy of no first use of nuclear weapons and a nuclear strategy that focuses on self-defense. China keeps its nuclear strength at the minimum level required by national security and does not engage in any nuclear arms race with any country. China takes an active part in the review process of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and meetings of the P5 (five nuclear-weapon states) mechanism, and maintains dialogue with various parties on nuclear disarmament," Lin concluded.

（By Evelyn）