Photo: VCG

New York (People’s Daily) - The UN Security Council held an open session on Thursday on the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF). Ambassador Zhang Jun, Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations, attended the meeting and stated China’s position.

Zhang said that the unilateral withdrawal of the United States from the INF treaty led to the demise of the treaty, which will have a far-reaching negative impact on global strategic balance and stability, regional security in Europe and Asia as well as international arms control regime. It is unacceptable to use China as an excuse for leaving the treaty, and China rejects the baseless accusation by the United States.

China strongly urges the relevant country to take a highly responsible attitude, exercise restraint and earnestly preserve the existing arms control regime in an effort to safeguard global strategic balance and stability and international and regional peace and security, Zhang added.

Zhang said that China’s nuclear strategy for self-defense is completely transparent and its nuclear policy is highly responsible. China opposes an arms race and works to safeguard global strategic balance and stability. Moving forward, China will continue to firmly uphold multilateralism, and actively participate in multilateral arms control processes to contribute to the maintenance of international peace and security.

In response to the US' unwarranted criticism of China’s development of intermediate range missiles, Zhang emphasized that the US withdrawal from the INF is yet another act of unilateralism and escape from international obligations by the United States. China’s land-based intermediate range missiles are all deployed within the Chinese territory. It is for defense purposes and poses no threat to any country. China firmly opposes US deployment of intermediate range missiles in the Asia-Pacific and urges the United States to be cool-headed and exercise restraint.