In response to the expiration of the New START treaty between Russia and the United States, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian announced that Beijing will maintain its nuclear forces only at the minimum level necessary for national defense and has no intention of entering an arms race.
He emphasized that China’s nuclear power is not at the same level as the United States and Russia, and under the current circumstances, China will not participate in nuclear arms control negotiations between these two powers.
China’s stance came at the same time as the official end of the New START Treaty on February 6, 2026, which was the last major nuclear arms control agreement between the world’s two major nuclear powers, and its expiration has raised concerns about the possibility of a new round of arms race.
