Mr. Chair,

Currently, the world entered a new period of turbulence and transformation. With cold-war mentality and hegemonism continue to haunt the world, new threats and challenges have been increasing and the global nuclear governance is facing multiple challenges including politicization and polarization. The international community is increasingly worried about the nuclear arms race and concerned with the growing risks of nuclear conflicts and proliferation.

At this crucial historical moment, we should uphold the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, stay committed to true multilateralism, and work together to address risks and challenges and safeguard world peace and security. In light of the developments in the international situation since the beginning of this year and the draft resolutions proposed by various parties during this session, China would like to propose the following:

First, it is necessary to effectively reduce the role of nuclear weapons in national and collective security doctrines. Nuclear weapons cannot be used and nuclear war must not be fought. China advocates that the international community should jointly oppose the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons. Nuclear-weapon States should adopt the no-first-use policy, negotiate and conclude a treaty on mutual no-first-use of nuclear weapons, and promote the early conclusion of a legally-binding instrument on negative security assurance to non-nuclear-weapon States. China supports international efforts to establish nuclear-weapon-free zones. 

At the same time, all parties should prioritize crisis prevention over crisis management, and reject the hypocritical practice of fanning confrontation and creating crises on one hand, while calling for reducing strategic risks and seeking so-called crisis management “guardrails” on the other. It must be pointed out that nuclear risk reduction measures cannot be substitute for nuclear disarmament efforts.

Second, it is necessary to adhere to the existing consensus on nuclear disarmament. The sustainable nuclear disarmament can only be achieved by adhering to the principles of “maintaining global strategic stability” and “undiminished security for all”. The United States and Russia possess more than 90 percent of the world's nuclear weapons. They should fulfill their special and primary responsibilities and continue to make substantial reductions in their nuclear arsenals, so as to create conditions for other nuclear-weapon states to join the nuclear disarmament process. China's nuclear force is by no means on the same level with those of the US and Russia. Our nuclear policy and strategic security environment are also completely different. It is neither reasonable nor realistic to expect China to join a so-called trilateral nuclear arms control negotiation. The so-called “trilateral arms control” narrative will only undermine the international consensus that the two nuclear-weapon States with the largest nuclear arsenals should take the lead in nuclear disarmament, and will serve as an excuse and a tool for certain nuclear-weapon state to shirk its own nuclear disarmament responsibility, cater to the interests of its military-industrial complexes, and pursue its geopolitical goals.

China hopes that the draft resolution proposed by relevant country will help bridge differences within the international community on taking pragmatic steps toward the goal of a world free of nuclear weapons, rather than undermine existing consensus or aggravate division and confrontation.

Third, China supports further strengthening the universality and effectiveness of the existing nuclear arms control treaty regime. China supports the cornerstone of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), welcomes the assumption of Viet Nam of the presidency of the 2026 NPT Review Conference, and is committed to promoting practical and substantive outcomes of the Conference. China has strictly observed its commitment to the moratorium on nuclear testing, and has been steadily advancing preparations for the implementation of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). China will not be an obstacle to the Treaty's entry into force. China supports the Conference on Disarmament in commencing negotiations on a Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty (FMCT) on the basis of a comprehensive and balanced programme of work and in accordance with the mandate contained in the Shannon Report. China calls on all parties to take a rational view of the differences among nuclear-weapon states in terms of their nuclear forces, policies and security environment, and to respect their legitimate and reasonable security concerns regarding nuclear transparency.

China remains committed to the peaceful settlement of regional nuclear issues through political and diplomatic means, and opposes resorting to the use of force or imposing illegal unilateral sanctions. China also opposes placing geopolitical agendas above nuclear non-proliferation. The right of all countries to the peaceful use of nuclear energy should be effectively safeguarded.

Complete and effective nuclear disarmament verification measures constitute an important technical guarantee for the eventual total prohibition and complete elimination of nuclear weapons. Any verification mechanism must be linked to specific disarmament treaties. The establishment of a group of scientific and technical experts would contribute positively to advancing international research on nuclear disarmament verification. Such group should operate on the basis of consensus, and the unique role and professional expertise of the Conference on Disarmament should be fully leveraged.

Fourth, it is necessary to resolutely oppose any unilateral act that undermine strategic stability. In recent years, certain country, pursuing absolute security and monopoly strategic advantages, increased the budget significantly to upgrade the triad nuclear forces, strengthened Nuclear Alliance and extended deterrence, deployed nuclear weapons on the territory of more countries, advanced the forward deployment of land-based intermediate-range missiles and developed global missile defense systems. Such actions undermined other countries' legitimate security interests and global strategic stability. The international community should firmly oppose them.

China advocates the concept of a human-centered approach to military artificial intelligence, attaches great importance to the potential risks associated with the military application of AI, and always upholds the principle of ensuring that nuclear weapons remain absolutely safe, reliable and under control. China recognizes the principles and spirit of the draft resolution on the possible risks of integration of artificial intelligence in command, control and communication (NC3) systems of nuclear weapons. China hopes that the specific content of the draft will fully address the legitimate concerns of all parties, particularly those of nuclear-weapon states, in terms of its balance and operability.

China always remains the force for global peace, stability and progress, with its nuclear capability and nuclear policy contributing significantly to world peace. China pursues a nuclear strategy of self-defense and resolutely adheres to a policy of no first use of nuclear weapons. China always opposes practices of nuclear threat, nuclear blackmail and nuclear war, and advocates complete prohibition and thorough destruction of nuclear weapons to realize the lofty goal of a world free of nuclear-weapons. China always keeps its nuclear forces at the minimum level required by its national security. China has not participated in any nuclear arms race and has no intention of doing so in the future. As the coordinator of P5 in last year, China has actively promoted discussion on nuclear policy and reducing strategic risks to enhance mutual trust, and will continue to support the efforts of P5 mechanism. The smear campaign and false accusation from certain countries cannot negate China's significant contribution to the nuclear disarmament process. China rejects categorically the unfounded accusation by certain countries regarding China's nuclear policy.

Mr. Chair, 

In the face of emerging global challenges and growing deficits in global governance, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the Global Governance Initiative, with the core concepts of adhering to sovereign equality, abiding by international law, practicing multilateralism, advocating the people-centered approach, and focusing on taking real actions, which is of great significance for addressing the current global nuclear governance dilemma. China is ready to strengthen communication and coordination with all parties to advance the international nuclear disarmament process and improve global nuclear governance.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.