Beijing : China has formally rejected international calls to join negotiations on a new multilateral nuclear arms control agreement following the expiration of the New START treaty between the United States and Russia. The pact, which lapsed on February 5, ended the last legally binding framework limiting the size and deployment of the world’s two largest nuclear arsenals.
The position was outlined by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian during a regular press briefing in Beijing. Lin said China would not take part in nuclear disarmament negotiations “at this stage,” reiterating Beijing’s view that responsibility for further reductions rests primarily with countries that maintain the largest nuclear stockpiles.
The statement followed renewed public suggestions from Washington that any future arms control framework should include China, reflecting changes in the global strategic environment and China’s expanding nuclear capabilities.
Expiration of the New START Treaty
New START, signed in 2010 and extended once in 2021, imposed limits on deployed strategic nuclear warheads and delivery systems held by the United States and Russia. Its expiration means that, for the first time in more than 50 years, there are no legally binding numerical caps or verification mechanisms governing the strategic nuclear forces of the two largest nuclear powers.
China expressed regret over the lapse of the treaty but emphasized that it was not a party to the agreement and therefore bore no responsibility for its expiration. Beijing urged Washington to respond positively to Russian proposals for voluntary restraint measures to help preserve global strategic stability.
Nuclear Arsenal Size and Scale Disparity
Chinese officials cite the significant imbalance in nuclear stockpile size as the central reason for declining participation in multilateral negotiations. Estimates by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) indicate that China possesses approximately 600 nuclear warheads as of 2026.
By comparison, Russia is estimated to maintain around 5,500 total warheads, while the United States has roughly 5,100. Both countries are believed to have close to 1,700 deployed strategic warheads each. Chinese officials argue that placing China under the same negotiating framework as the United States and Russia would institutionalize a permanent disparity.
Lin Jian stated that nations with the largest arsenals have a “special and primary responsibility” to lead nuclear disarmament efforts, adding that China’s forces remain on a “completely different scale.”
China’s Nuclear Policy and Strategic Rationale
China maintains a declared “no first use” policy and describes its nuclear posture as one of minimum deterrence, intended solely to ensure national security. Officials argue that China’s arsenal is kept at the lowest level deemed necessary and that formal limits could restrict its ability to respond to evolving security conditions.
Chinese analysts and officials also point to concerns over transparency requirements embedded in most arms control treaties. Provisions such as intrusive inspections and detailed data exchanges are viewed as potentially compromising the survivability of China’s smaller and more mobile nuclear force.
In addition, Beijing has expressed concern that participation in arms reduction talks before achieving what it considers a secure and credible second-strike capability could weaken deterrence, particularly in the context of advanced missile defense systems and emerging military technologies.
International Response and Security Implications
The expiration of New START has prompted warnings from international bodies. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres described the end of the treaty as a serious setback for global security, noting that the absence of binding limits increases the risk of miscalculation and arms competition.
China has reiterated its support for the long-term goal of nuclear disarmament while maintaining that reductions should be led by states with the largest arsenals. Beijing has called for continued dialogue between Washington and Moscow and for measures that reduce strategic risks and maintain stability in the absence of formal treaty constraints.
Current Nuclear Force Estimates
As of 2026, Russia and the United States continue to dominate global nuclear inventories, each maintaining thousands of warheads across land-based missiles, submarines, and strategic bombers. China’s warheads are believed to be largely kept at lower alert levels, with most stored separately from delivery systems during peacetime.
With no active arms control agreement in force between the United States and Russia and China declining to join negotiations under current conditions, the global nuclear environment remains without legally binding limits among the three major nuclear powers.
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