China promises not to join nuclear arms race

China reiterates in its latest military whitepaper Tuesday that it will never enter into a nuclear arms race with any other country.

The nuclear force is highlighted as one of China's four "critical security domains", other than the ocean, outer space and cyberspace, by the report titled "China's Military Strategy" released on Tuesday by the Information Office of the State Council.

Reiterating the policy of no first use of nuclear weapons and a self-defensive nuclear strategy, the report pledges that China will unconditionally not use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon states or in nuclear-weapon-free zones.

It also promises to keep its nuclear capability at the minimum level required for maintaining its national security.

China will optimize its nuclear force structure, improve strategic early warning, command and control, missile penetration, rapid reaction, survivability and protection, and deter other countries from using or threatening to use nuclear weapons against China.

Source: Xinhua News Agency