During a regular press conference on October 16, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning addressed a question regarding the historical significance of China’s nuclear policy.

A reporter asked, “On October 16, 1964, China successfully detonated its first atomic bomb and announced its commitment to a policy of no first use of nuclear weapons. Recently, a Chinese representative proposed negotiations for a ‘no first use’ treaty among nuclear-armed states during the review process of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). What is China’s stance on this?”

Mao Ning responded, “On that historic day in 1964, the Chinese government made a solemn declaration that under no circumstances would it ever be the first to use nuclear weapons. Experience and reality have shown that the policy of no first use fosters strategic mutual trust, advances nuclear disarmament, significantly reduces strategic risks, and promotes global strategic balance and stability.”

She emphasized, “For 60 years, this no first use policy has increasingly become an important consensus and priority in the international arms control arena. This year, China submitted a working document on the no first use initiative to the Preparatory Committee of the 11th Review Conference of the NPT. We are committed to working with all parties toward the comprehensive prohibition and total elimination of nuclear weapons, with the ultimate goal of achieving a world free of nuclear arms.”