Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiacun stated on Tuesday that the expectation for Beijing to join nuclear disarmament talks with Washington and Moscow is "unreasonable and unrealistic".

"China and the US are not on the same level in terms of nuclear capabilities. The strategic security environments and nuclear policies of the two countries are completely different. Countries with the largest nuclear arsenals should earnestly fulfill their special and primary responsibilities for nuclear disarmament," Guo said at a press conference in Beijing.

He added that China maintains its nuclear forces "at the minimum level necessary for national security," does not pursue a first-use nuclear policy, and does not participate in an arms race with any country.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiacun at a press conference in Beijing. Photo: Chinese Foreign Ministry

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiacun at a press conference in Beijing. Photo: Chinese Foreign Ministry

President Trump said on Saturday that the US is pursuing denuclearization with both Russia and China.

"I think denuclearization is a very important goal. Russia is willing to do it, and I think China will be willing too. We can't let nuclear weapons proliferate. We have to stop nuclear weapons. Their power is too great," Trump told reporters at the White House.

Russia and the US possess nearly 90% of the world's nuclear weapons, but both countries have been moving away from commitments to non-proliferation of these weapons of mass destruction. In 2023, Moscow withdrew from the last remaining nuclear arms control treaty with Washington.

According to 2024 estimates from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, the US has 3,708 nuclear warheads and Russia has 4,380, excluding decommissioned warheads. China has 500 warheads, an increase of 90 from 2023. Following China are France with 290 warheads and the UK with 225.

Huyen Le (AFP)