China expresses regret over expiration of US-Russia nuclear treaty

China expresses regret over the expiration of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) between the United States and Russia, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said on Thursday.

Lin made the remarks at a regular press briefing in Beijing in response to a media inquiry on the expiration of New START, the U.S.-Russia nuclear arms reduction treaty.

"China has always been extremely prudent and responsible on nuclear weapons issues. China has consistently adhered to a nuclear strategy of self-defense, strictly abides by the policy of 'no first use' of nuclear weapons, and has made an unconditional commitment not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon states and nuclear-weapon-free zones. China always keeps its nuclear capabilities at the minimum level required for national security and has no intention of engaging in an arms race with any country. China has consistently advocated advancing nuclear disarmament, which must follow the principles of 'maintaining global strategic stability' and 'undiminished security for all.' China's nuclear strength is by no means on the same level with that of the U.S. or Russia. China will not join the nuclear disarmament negotiations at this stage," he said.

"The treaty is of great significance to safeguarding global strategic stability. The international community is generally concerned that its expiration will have negative impacts on the international arms control system and the global nuclear order. Russia has proposed that Russia and the United States continue to observe the core limits of the treaty. China calls on the United States to respond positively, handle the follow-up arrangements of the treaty in a responsible manner, and resume strategic stability dialogue with Russia at an early date, which is also the common expectation of the international community," the spokesman added.

China expresses regret over expiration of US-Russia nuclear treaty

China expresses regret over expiration of US-Russia nuclear treaty

China expresses regret over expiration of US-Russia nuclear treaty

A spokesman for China's Taiwan Affairs Office on Thursday condemned the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities in Taiwan for proposing a redesign of the new Taiwan dollar, calling it a politically driven attempt to sever shared cross-Strait heritage and describing the move as "sinister", a betrayal of national roots, and "deeply shameful".

Chen Binhua, spokesman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, made the remarks at a press conference when commenting on the DPP's attempt to remove portraits of political figures such as Dr. Sun Yat-sen from the redesigned banknotes.

"The intent is to sever the historical and cultural bond between the two sides of the Strait and to promote 'de-Sinicization' in order to shape a 'Taiwan separatism' ideology within society. This is a politically sinister move, a betrayal of Dr. Sun Yat-sen and the pioneers of the 1911 Revolution. It is a disgraceful act of forgetting one's roots," said Chen.

"History is history, and facts are facts. No matter how hard the DPP authorities try or how recklessly they behave, they cannot change the historical and legal fact that both sides of the Strait belong to one China, nor can they erase the Chinese national identity shared by people in Taiwan," he said.

Mainland slams DPP's move to alter Taiwan currency's design as betrayal of heritage: spokesman