The ministry said extending the treaty would help maintain global strategic stability
The Chinese government welcomes the decision of Russia and the US to extend the Treaty on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (START, unofficially called START-3). Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said this at a regular briefing on Wednesday.
“China welcomes the agreement between the US and Russia to extend START-3. Its extension will help maintain global strategic stability, international peace and security, which is in line with the universal expectations of the international community”, – he said.
“China hopes that the parties will complete the treaty extension process as soon as possible. The US and Russia, as holders of the largest nuclear arsenals in the world, accounting for over 90 percent of such weapons, should follow the international consensus and fulfill their crucial nuclear disarmament obligations, significantly and substantially reduce their nuclear weapons arsenals to create conditions for the realization of comprehensive and complete nuclear disarmament”, – the diplomat said.
At the same time, Zhao Lijian pointed out that China has no plans yet to take part in trilateral negotiations on nuclear arms reduction. “China’s position on this issue is consistent and clear,” he said briefly in response to a question from reporters as to whether China plans to change its position.
In July 2020, Fu Tsung, director of the Arms Control Department of China’s Foreign Ministry, said Beijing would not take part in trilateral arms control talks with the US and Russia until they reduce their nuclear arsenals to parity with China.