BEIJING, July 14 -- The Chinese side is fully committed to the establishment of a nuclear weapon-free zone in Southeast Asia, and has made clear China's willingness to take the lead in signing the protocol, said a Chinese defense spokesperson on Monday.
It is reported that the Philippine Defense Secretary has recently said in an interview that China's willingness to sign the Protocol to the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone was just a symbolic gesture. With one of the world's largest nuclear arsenals, China should denuclearize first to show its sincerity.
In response to that, Senior Colonel Jiang Bin, spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense, said that some people in the Philippines often make groundless accusations against China's efforts in preserving regional peace. "Do they speak for themselves or stand for their country? We are not sure."
"The establishment of a nuclear weapon-free zone in Southeast Asia is significant for strengthening the international nuclear non-proliferation regime and promoting regional peace and stability, and is conducive to the fundamental security interests of ASEAN countries," said the spokesperson, adding that the Chinese side is fully committed to such an undertaking, and has made clear China's willingness to take the lead in signing the protocol.
The spokesperson stressed that China follows a policy of no first use of nuclear weapons, and has made an unconditional commitment of not using or threatening to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon states or nuclear weapon-free zones. He further pointed out that China is the only nuclear-weapon state that has made such a commitment. China's nuclear force and nuclear policy have been a significant contribution to world peace, which is widely recognized by the international community.