MOST recently, China’s State Council Information Office released a white paper titled “Chi-na’s Arms Control, Disarmament and Nonproliferation in the New Era,” vividly reflecting its humanistic wisdom, strong political commitment, sense of responsibility and spirit of inter-national cooperation to control arms for the greater protection of humanity, global safety and security. China continues to play a positive, productive, participatory and constructive role in international arms control, disarmament and nonproliferation and actively offers initiatives and solutions demonstrating its peaceful diplomatic, political and technological advancement that cares about humanity, the environment, global peace and development and the international order.
Evidently, the white paper comprehensively presents China’s policies and practices on arms control, disarmament and nonproliferation, while highlighting its position on security governance in emerging fields such as outer space, cyberspace and artificial intelligence. This indicates a complete code of conduct and an international plan that is open, transparent, integrated and contributory. The document restates China’s commitment to safeguarding world peace and security and calls on countries around the world to work together for international arms control, which is a good omen despite persistent Western misrepresentation and propaganda.
Additionally, China’s commitment to upholding the international arms control regime with the United Nations (UN) at its core stands as a central pillar of the newly released white pa-per. It works toward promoting global governance in arms control, supporting all efforts to build a world of lasting peace and common security and serving as a key promoter of inter-national arms control. As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China has actively safeguarded the authority and effectiveness of international arms control regimes. Its constructive role in multilateral arms control across nuclear, biological, chemical and other fields, while conscientiously performing its duties prescribed by international treaties, is commendable and illustrates a code of conduct that protects human safety. Interestingly, the emerging fields of outer space, cyberspace and artificial intelligence represent new frontiers for human development, also highlighted in the white paper. These areas create fresh zones of strategic security and new territories of global governance. Since the policy is open and internationally appealing, China’s proposal for the universal participation of all countries is a holistic and timely strategic step. The UN should play a pivotal role in fostering a global governance framework and standards for emerging fields based on broad consensus, while increasing the representation and voice of developing countries.
Furthermore, the white paper suggests that China should continue building its domestic nonproliferation capacity, actively participating in the international nonproliferation process, promoting cooperation in the peaceful use of science and technology and facilitating improved global nonproliferation governance. It thus provides a complete set of guide-lines for national capacity building and strengthened international cooperation to save the world from nuclear catastrophe. Chinese modernization continues to follow the path of peaceful development and its growth contributes to the strength of the world’s peaceful forces, substantiating its constructive global role.
China’s readiness to work with all peace-loving nations to build an equal and orderly multi-polar world and promote universally beneficial economic globalization is a major positive contribution to world peace, stability, harmony and productivity. Its pledge to consolidate and develop the UN-centered arms control regime, collaborate to build a community with a shared future for humanity and create a brighter collective future is a decisive step in the right direction. A Chinese military spokesperson framed the new white paper as demonstrating China’s firm resolve and sense of responsibility in strengthening arms control, maintaining strategic stability and reducing the harm caused by war. Moreover, China’s constructive participation in global security governance reflects its efforts to advance arms control, disarmament and nonproliferation, as well as its vital role in promoting world peace and stability. The timing of the white paper is significant, conveying a message of regional peace, stability and harmony despite rising militarization and an untamed global arms race. It also provides clarity by outlining the challenging international security environment, China’s positions and policies on arms control, its constructive contributions, its approach to emerging security fields and its call for stronger international cooperation on nonproliferation and peaceful use of science and technology.
The white paper is holistic, comprehensive and futuristic, highlighting China’s policies and practices while clearly listing its positions on emerging technological domains related to security governance. It underscores China’s long-standing commitment to safeguarding global peace and security and calls on all countries to advance cooperation in arms control. China’s approach is peace-loving and holds the recipe for universal safety and security. Its national defense policy remains defensive in nature and serves as the fundamental guideline for its military development, clearly dispelling speculations regarding its intentions.
Obviously, China maintains defence spending that is open, transparent, reasonable and appropriate. Its defense budget remains relatively low as a share of GDP compared to other countries, demonstrating that its military objectives are defensive and not expansionist. China’s nuclear weapons are not intended to threaten other countries, but to guarantee defence and self-protection, representing its commitment to stability and the prevention of nuclear conflict. This principled posture contributes to international trust-building and risk reduction between global nuclear powers.
The writer is of the view that China’s international cooperation on arms control and the adoption of mutual no-first-use commitments among nuclear states would help reduce strategic risks, prevent nuclear arms races and promote long-term global strategic stability. Moreover, the writer asserts that China’s steadfast support for resolving nuclear proliferation issues through political and diplomatic means, while simultaneously encouraging the peaceful application of nuclear energy, serves as a responsible and forward-looking path to world peace.
—The writer is President, the Centre for Knowledge and Public Policy, Regional Expert: China, CPEC, BRI & World Affairs.
