(10 March 2026, Geneva)

Mr. President,

We regret the US colleague’s lack of reflection on the country’s own negative role in triggering the nuclear arms race. Instead, they sought to confuse the issue by smearing China to shift blame and evade their own responsibilities. Given the US Delegation’s insistence on targeting China, I am compelled to respond.

Over the past two decades, the US has successively withdrawn from a series of arms control and confidence-building mechanisms, including the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, and the Open Skies Treaty, continuously dismantling the international security architecture. At the same time, the US has elevated the status of nuclear weapons in its national security strategy. Its fiscal year 2026 budget allocates $98.6 billion for nuclear force development, marking a historic high.

The US possesses the world’s largest and most advanced nuclear arsenal. Obsessed with seeking exclusive and absolute security, it adheres to a policy of first use of nuclear weapons and has established a “nuclear alliance” through arrangements such as “nuclear sharing” and “extended deterrence”, making it the country with the largest deployment of nuclear weapons abroad. Furthermore, the US plans to develop and deploy the “Golden Dome” missile defense system and to forward-deploy strategic offensive and defensive capabilities, including land-based intermediate-range missiles and global missile defense systems, targeting other nuclear-weapon states. These actions by the US severely undermine the legitimate rights and interests of other nuclear-weapon states, seriously damage global and regional strategic stability, and increase the risks of nuclear confrontation and conflict, thereby fueling the nuclear arms race.

The US claims that it wishes to promote multilateral strategic stability dialogues and reach new arms control treaties, while accusing China of refusing to engage in dialogue. In this regard, I wish to clarify. As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China actively upholds the authority and effectiveness of the international arms control regime, has consistently participated constructively in multilateral arms control processes in the nuclear field, faithfully fulfilled its obligations under international arms control treaties such as the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), and has made its due contribution to the international arms control. China has ratified or signed more than 20 multilateral arms control treaties and participates comprehensively and deeply in meetings and activities of arms control mechanisms such as the UN First Committee, the Disarmament Commission, and the Conference on Disarmament, contributing to the maintenance and strengthening of the multilateral system with the UN at its core.

China attaches importance to enhancing bilateral and multilateral communication and exchanges and has established consultation mechanisms on arms control and non-proliferation with more than 20 countries and international organizations to enhance mutual understanding and trust. China believes that the P5 mechanism is an important platform for nuclear-weapon states to uphold the NPT regime and a crucial mechanism for strengthening strategic communication and building strategic mutual trust. China actively participates in and promotes the effective functioning of the P5 mechanism.

The US accuses China of being unwilling to participate in nuclear arms control negotiations. In fact, we have consistently advocated for all nuclear-weapon states to conclude a legal instrument on the complete prohibition and thorough destruction of nuclear weapons, called on nuclear-weapon states to conclude a treaty on “mutual no first use of nuclear weapons” and proposed expediting negotiations to reach an international legal instrument on negative security assurances. The US has proposed multilateral arms control negotiations, but it remains unclear what exactly the US intends to negotiate. We do have a few proposals for discussion.

First, we urge the US to reaffirm its commitment to achieving a world free of nuclear weapons, publicly pledge not to seek to possess nuclear weapons forever, and agree to conclude a legal instrument on the complete prohibition and thorough destruction of nuclear weapons.

Second, we urge the US, as the owner of the largest and most advanced nuclear arsenal, to substantially and irreversibly reduce its nuclear weapons, including stockpiled warheads, at the earliest opportunity.

Third, we urge the US to reaffirm the P5 commitment to a moratorium on nuclear testing, uphold the global consensus on banning nuclear tests, cease seeking excuses to resume nuclear testing, and take concrete measures to support the early entry into force of the treaty.

Fourth, we urge the US to unconditionally commit not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon states or nuclear-weapon-free zones, cease obstructing negotiations on an international legal instrument on negative security assurances, and promptly sign and ratify the protocols to treaties establishing nuclear-weapon-free zones, such as the Central Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty, withdrawing any reservations made.

Fifth, we urge the US to join negotiations on a treaty on “mutual no first use of nuclear weapons” and abandon its policy of first use of nuclear weapons.

Sixth, we urge the US to cease undermining global strategic stability, halt the research, development, and deployment of the “Golden Dome” missile defense system, and stop the forward deployment of strategic assets.

Seventh, we urge the US to agree to negotiate, within the Conference on Disarmament, a treaty on the prevention of the placement of weapons in outer space and of the threat or use of force against outer space objects.

Eighth, we urge the US to withdraw its nuclear weapons deployed abroad and abandon policies of “nuclear sharing” and “extended deterrence”.

Ninth, we urge the US to cease transferring weapons-grade highly enriched uranium to both nuclear-weapon states and non-nuclear-weapon states.

Tenth, and most importantly, we urge the US to genuinely abide by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, discard hegemonic practices such as readily resorting to or threatening the use of force in international relations and wantonly interfering in the internal affairs of other countries.

We call upon and look forward to the US side responding positively to these issues.

Finally, I wish to emphasize that the thinly-veiled interference in the internal affairs of other countries and the issuance of irresponsible pro-nuclear rhetoric by leaders and certain politicians of a certain country are also major causes leading to regional tensions and increasing the risks of an arms race. The international community must remain clear-eyed.

Thank you, Mr. President.