Moscow, Jan. 4 (BNA): China, Russia, Britain, the United States and France have agreed on the need to avoid the proliferation of nuclear weapons and nuclear war, according to a joint statement of the five nuclear powers published by the US space agency. The Kremlin on Monday.
She said the five nations – the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council – see their primary responsibility as avoiding war between nuclear-armed states and minimizing strategic risks, while working with all nations to create an atmosphere of security. .
“We affirm that a nuclear war cannot be won and should never be fought,” the English version of the statement said.
“Since nuclear use will have far-reaching consequences, we also affirm that nuclear weapons – as long as they continue to exist – must serve defensive purposes, deter aggression and prevent war.”
Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu said the joint statement can help increase mutual trust and “replace competition between major powers with coordination and cooperation,” adding that China has a “no first use” policy of nuclear weapons, according to Reuters.
France also issued the statement, confirming that the five powers had renewed their determination to limit and disarm nuclear weapons. She added that they would continue the bilateral and multilateral approach to nuclear arms control.
The statement of the so-called P5 comes at a time when bilateral relations between the United States and Moscow have fallen to their lowest levels since the end of the Cold War, while relations between Washington and China are also at a low point due to a range of differences.
The Pentagon sharply increased in November its estimate of China’s projected nuclear arsenal over the coming years, saying Beijing could have 700 warheads by 2027 and possibly 1,000 by 2030.
Washington has repeatedly urged China to join it and Russia in a new arms control treaty.
Geopolitical tensions have risen between Moscow and Western countries over concerns about Russian military buildup near neighboring Ukraine. Moscow says it can move its army around its territory as it sees fit.
US President Joe Biden told his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, last Thursday that any potential move on Ukraine would lead to sanctions and an increase in the US presence in Europe.
The two countries said that US and Russian officials will hold security talks on January 10 to discuss concerns about each other’s military activity and address escalating tensions over Ukraine.
A conference on a major nuclear treaty that was due to start Tuesday at the United Nations has been postponed until August due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
HF