nuclear-news

Cut your nuclear weapons drastically – China urges USA and Russia

China wants ‘drastic’ US, Russia nuclear arms cuts, Daily Times, 1 May 12 A senior Chinese diplomat told a nuclear meeting in Vienna that the development of missile defence systems which ‘disrupt’ the global strategic balance should also be abandoned, in a possible reference to US plans that have angered Russia

China called on the United States and Russia on Monday to make “drastic” cuts in their nuclear arsenals, saying countries with atomic weapons should pledge not to be the first to use them.

A senior Chinese diplomat told a nuclear meeting in Vienna that the
development of missile defence systems which “disrupt” the global
strategic balance should also be abandoned, in a possible reference to
US plans that have angered Russia. Under a treaty enforced in February
2011, Washington and Moscow are to limit the number of operationally
deployed nuclear warheads to 1,550 – 30 percent lower than the ceiling
a decade-old pact established. But they still hold most of the world’s
nuclear arms – a fact stressed by the Chinese representative on the
opening day of a two-week meeting in Vienna to discuss the
Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), a 1970 pact to prevent the spread of
atomic bombs. China, Britain and France are the other three recognised
nuclear weapons states in the world. ….
“Other nuclear weapon states, when conditions are ripe, should also
join the multilateral negotiations on nuclear disarmament,” Cheng
added, apparently referring to the five recognised nuclear-armed
countries.

India and Pakistan – which also have nuclear arms – are not part of
the NPT. Israel, widely believed to have such arms, is also outside
the treaty. China closely guards information about its nuclear
arsenal. …. http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2012%5C05%5C01%5Cstory_1-5-2012_pg14_8

May 1, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | China, weapons and war