China refutes Japanese criticism of its nuclear policies

Japan has raised "strong concern" over a continuous increase of nuclear arsenal by China.

Beijing: Japan has raised "strong concern"
over a continuous increase of nuclear arsenal by China and
accused it of not fulfilling its commitment on disarmament,
prompting Beijing to label the allegations as irresponsible.

Japan asked China to cut down its nuclear stockpile
during talks between Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada
and his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi in South Korea.

During the meeting, Okada accused China of not fulfilling
its commitment on nuclear disarmament, accusing Beijing of
continuously enhancing the nuclear power when the whole world
promoted nuclear disarmament efforts.

He expressed Japan`s "strong concern" about it.
Countering Japanese criticism, Yang said China always
advocated that the nuclear weapons should be completely
forbidden and totally destroyed, and it also firmly pursues a
nuclear strategy of self-defence, Chinese Foreign Ministry
spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said.

He said China is the only nuclear power which adheres
to the policy of no-first-use of nuclear weapons, and promises
unconditionally not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons
against nuclear-free states or nuclear-free regions.

Yang stressed that China never takes part in any nuclear
arms races and never deploys any nuclear weapons in other
countries, China`s official news agency Xinhua quoted him as
saying.

He said China will maintain its nuclear power on the
lowest level that its security needs, and termed Japan`s
rebuke as irresponsible. He further noted that the Chinese
position is proper, transparent and unimpeachable.

Yang said he hopes the Japanese Foreign Minister could
respect the fact and put the bilateral ties between the two
countries and fundamental interests between the two peoples
above all.

The China-Japan spat took place on the sidelines on the
trilateral meeting between the Foreign Ministers of China,
Japan and South Korea.

PTI

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