Beijing: (Agency) China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded on Tuesday to a draft report by the US Department of Defense Pentagon, saying that China is not involved in a nuclear arms race with anyone and that the US should fulfill its responsibilities regarding the elimination of nuclear weapons.
This response came after the Pentagon's report claimed that China has installed over 100 intercontinental ballistic missiles at various launch sites and is not interested in Washington's nuclear disarmament efforts.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lijian said during a regular press briefing that the US should create conditions under which other nuclear-armed countries can participate in the disarmament process.
He clarified that China is not participating in a nuclear arms race with any country. The Pentagon's report highlighted China's growing military capabilities, stating that Beijing has possibly installed over 100 intercontinental ballistic missiles at three new launch sites and is not ready to negotiate on arms control.
China maintains that it adheres to a defensive nuclear strategy and a policy of not using nuclear weapons first.
On the other hand, US President Donald Trump has expressed a desire to resume nuclear tests in the US, although no concrete steps have been taken in this regard.
China is currently modernizing and expanding its military capabilities at a pace faster than other nuclear powers. Beijing has termed reports of its military expansion as attempts to damage its reputation and deliberately mislead the international community.
Last month, US President Donald Trump said he could work on a plan to eliminate nuclear weapons with China and Russia. However, the Pentagon's draft report, accessed by the news agency Reuters, stated that Beijing is not interested in the matter.
The report stated that China has possibly deployed over 100 solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missiles, type DF-31, in missile storage facilities near the border with Mongolia. These facilities are part of the multiple sites China is building to store missiles.
The Pentagon had previously identified these facilities but did not disclose the number of missiles. The Pentagon declined to comment on the report, while the Chinese embassy in Washington did not respond to Reuters' request for comment.
The report did not specify the potential targets of these missiles, and US officials said the report could be revised before being presented to lawmakers. The report stated that Beijing does not seem to have any desire to take such actions or engage in comprehensive negotiations on arms control.
According to the report, China's nuclear warhead stockpile will be around 600 by 2024, reflecting a slow production rate in recent years. However, the report also stated that China's nuclear expansion is ongoing, and it is on track to have over 1,000 nuclear warheads by 2030.
