BEIJING – China urged the United States to drop its “Cold War mentality”and not misread its military build-up, after Washington published adocument on Friday outlining plans to expand its nuclear capabilities todeter others.
“Peace and development are irreversible global trends. The United States,the country that owns the world`s largest nuclear arsenal, should take theinitiative to follow the trend instead of going against it,” said China`sMinistry of Defence in a statement on Sunday.
The review of US nuclear policy has already riled Russia, which viewed thedocument as confrontational, and raised fears that it could increase therisk of miscalculation between the two countries.
The US military has put countering China and Russia, dubbed “revisionistpowers”, at the centre of a new national defence strategy unveiled earlierthis month.
By expanding its own low-yield nuclear capability, the US would deterRussia from using nuclear weapons, say American officials.
China accused the United States of “presumptuous speculation” about China`sintentions, and said it has always adopted a restrained attitude towardsthe development of nuclear weapons and kept its nuclear forces to a minimum.
“We hope that the United States will abandon its Cold War mentality,earnestly assume its special disarmament responsibilities, correctlyunderstand China`s strategic intentions and objectively view China`snational defense and military build-up…,” the ministry said in thestatement posted on its website.
It called on the US to work together with China and for their armies tobecome a stabilizing factor in Sino-U.S. relations and in the region.