Zhong Sheng Commentary on Trump-Xi Call - Guangcai Program Meeting - Breakdown of White Paper on Arms Control, Disarmament & Non-proliferation
Here are the key reports and articles from the People’s Daily’s edition on Thursday, November 27, 2025.
Page 1: At the top of the page is a report on Xi Jinping sending a congratulatory message to a UN meeting held on Tuesday to commemorate the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.
“In his message, Xi said that the Palestinian issue lies at the heart of the Middle East conflict, affecting international fairness, justice and regional stability. He added that under the current circumstances, the international community should build greater consensus and take more proactive steps to ensure a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire in Gaza and prevent a resurgence of conflict. Noting that post-conflict governance and reconstruction in Gaza should be carried out under the principle of ‘Palestinians governing Palestine’, with full respect for the will of the Palestinian people and due regard for the legitimate concerns of countries in the region, Xi stressed the urgency of swiftly improving the humanitarian situation in Gaza and alleviating the suffering of the Palestinian people. Most importantly, he said, efforts should be anchored in the pursuit of a two-state solution to promote an early political settlement of the Palestinian issue. Xi emphasized that the Palestinian issue is also a test of the effectiveness of the global governance system. He called on the international community to confront the root causes of the Palestinian issue, shoulder responsibility, take strong actions, correct historical injustices, and uphold fairness and justice. As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China firmly supports the just cause of the Palestinian people to restore their legitimate national rights, Xi said, adding that China will continue to work with the international community to make unremitting efforts for a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian issue at an early date.”
Another report on the page covers Xi’s condolences over a deadly residential building fire in Hong Kong. Then there’s a brief report on the appointment of new ambassadors.
Guo Wei was appointed ambassador to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, replacing Chen Chuandong.
Dong Zhihua was appointed ambassador to the Republic of Moldova, replacing Yan Wenbin.
Qu Yuhui was appointed ambassador to the Republic of Nicaragua, replacing Chen Xi.
Moving on, there’s a report on the seventh congress of the China Society for Promotion of the Guangcai Program, which began yesterday. Among the attendees were Wang Huning, Vice Premier Liu Guozhong, UFWD chef Li Ganjie, Vice Chairman of NPCSC He Wei, and Vice Chairman of CPPCC NC Wang Yong, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, attended the meeting.
Li Ganjie delivered the opening speech.
“He stated that the Party Central Committee attaches great importance to the development of the Guangcai Program, and General Secretary Xi Jinping has made several important statements, pointing the way forward and providing fundamental guidance for carrying out the Guangcai Program in the new era. It is essential to deeply understand the significance of the Guangcai Program in serving the overall interests of the United Front, fully leverage its important role in demonstrating the advantages of the socialist system with Chinese characteristics, promoting coordinated urban and rural development, and fostering the ‘Two Healths’, and further enhance the sense of responsibility and mission. It is crucial to accurately grasp the mission and tasks of the Guangcai Program on the new journey, guide private entrepreneurs to more deeply understand the decisive significance of the Two Establishments, resolutely uphold the Two Safeguards, consciously follow the path of high-quality development, devote themselves to those who become rich first promote common prosperity, and strive to become new Guangcai practitioners who bravely shoulder the responsibilities of the times. It is necessary to adapt to the new situation and new requirements facing the United Front work related to the private economy, strengthen the self-construction of the CSPGP, deepen reform and innovation, strengthen overall coordination, and promote the Guangcai Program to radiate new vitality and shine new brilliance on the new journey of Chinese-style modernization.” 李干杰在大会开幕式上发表讲话。他表示，党中央高度重视光彩事业发展，习近平总书记多次作出重要论述，为做好新时代光彩事业指明了前进方向、提供了根本遵循。要深刻认识光彩事业在统一战线服务中心大局中的重要意义，充分发挥光彩事业在彰显中国特色社会主义制度优势、助力城乡区域协调发展和促进“两个健康”中的重要作用，进一步增强责任感使命感。要准确把握新征程光彩事业的使命任务，引导广大民营企业家更加深刻领悟“两个确立”的决定性意义，坚决做到“两个维护”，自觉走高质量发展之路，投身先富促共富，争做勇担时代重任的新光彩人。要适应民营经济统战工作面临的新形势新要求，强化光彩会自身建设，深化改革创新，强化统筹协调，推动光彩事业在中国式现代化新征程上焕发新的活力、绽放新的光彩.
The meeting deliberated and approved the work report and the draft amendments to the Articles of Association of the CSPGP. It also elected the leading body of the Seventh Council. UFWD Vice Minister Shen Ying was elected president; Fang Guanghua and 22 other comrades were elected vice presidents; 136 comrades were elected standing council members.
Finally, there’s a consolidated report on Li Qiang and Zhao Leji meeting with King Tupou VI of the Kingdom of Tonga.
“Zhao said China is ready to work with Tonga to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, firmly support each other on issues concerning core interests, advance high-quality mutually beneficial cooperation, deepen people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and promote the sustained, sound and steady development of China-Tonga relations. China’s NPC is ready to enhance multi-level and multi-sector exchanges and interactions with the parliament of Tonga, providing legal safeguards for practical cooperation between the two countries, Zhao added.”
Li told him that “China is ready to enhance synergy between the BRI and Tonga’s national development strategies, and to use the signature of the Enhanced Economic Partnership Agreement between the two countries as an opportunity to boost two-way trade and investment…He also called for the advancement of cooperation in such areas as infrastructure construction and industries, and for the proper arrangement and implementation of cooperation plans in development-related fields to serve the modernization drives of both countries in an improved manner. Li said that China is willing to import more high-quality agricultural and fishery products from Tonga, and to encourage Chinese enterprises to invest and do business in Tonga, adding that both sides should expand exchange in the fields of education, health, subnational cooperation, tourism and sports. China is ready to strengthen multilateral coordination and collaboration with Tonga to tackle global challenges such as climate change, he said. It is also ready to actively pursue the vision of a community with a shared future for humanity, implement the four major global initiatives, and contribute to shaping a more just, equitable global governance system, he added, expressing hope that Tonga will continue to play an active role in enhancing cooperation between China and Pacific Island countries.”
As per the report, “King Tupou VI reaffirmed that “Tonga adheres to the one-China principle and supports United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 fully. The Tongan government attaches great importance to its relations with China, the king noted. It is willing to deepen pragmatic cooperation with China in fields such as the economy and trade, agriculture and fisheries, clean energy, health care, and disaster prevention and mitigation, and to enhance people-to-people exchange in such areas as youth and sports, he added. Tonga supports the four major global initiatives put forward by China’s head of state, and is willing to strengthen multilateral communication and coordination with China to tackle common challenges such as climate change, promote more achievements in South-South cooperation, and advance the reform of the global governance system.”
I had mentioned yesterday that China and Tonga had agreed on a joint statement during this visit. The text (Chinese text) is now available. Key excerpts:
Tonga reaffirms its commitment to the one-China principle and recognizes that there is but one China in the world, Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory, and the government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China. Tonga firmly opposes ‘Taiwan independence’ in all forms, steadfastly supports the Chinese government in realizing national reunification, and believes that the authority of the United Nations (U.N.) General Assembly Resolution 2758 brooks no question or challenge. Tonga firmly supports China’s position on issues related to Hong Kong, Xinjiang, Xizang, human rights, etc.
The two sides will “expand practical cooperation in a broad range of areas, including trade and investment, agriculture, forestry, fisheries, infrastructure and clean energy. The Chinese side will continue to provide help within its capacity for Tonga to achieve independent and sustainable development. China carries out cooperation with Tonga in a way that responds to Tonga’s needs, focuses on development, honors openness and inclusiveness, and does not target any third party. Tonga expresses its recognition and appreciation.”
China will continue to send medical teams to Tonga and send traditional Chinese medicine doctors to bring Tonga into the New-Era Shennong Herbal Project. China will continue to provide Chinese government scholarships and various training opportunities to Tonga and support Tonga in Chinese language teaching.
The two sides stand ready to conduct maritime cooperation on the basis of equality, mutual trust, and mutual benefit. The two sides agreed to deepen practical maritime cooperation, including ocean observation and forecasting, marine disaster prevention and mitigation, marine ecosystem protection and restoration, marine spatial planning and blue economy, to foster a maritime community with a shared future.
The Chinese side will work to support the Tonga Energy Roadmap and, building on the success of the China-Aid Wind Farm Project, further expand cooperation with Tonga in green and low carbon areas. The two sides agreed to continue to step up practical cooperation on disaster prevention, mitigation and response and strengthen multi-level communication under the Belt and Road Cooperation Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and Emergency Management.
Page 2: Today, we have a Zhong Sheng commentary discussing the latest Trump-Xi call. The article says that the call “sent a positive signal to the world regarding the maintenance of the post-war international order and global peace and stability.”
“Head-to-head diplomacy has always been the guiding force in the development of China-US relations. The Busan summit between the Chinese and US heads of state was not only a historic moment in bilateral relations but also a landmark event in international relations. Since the summit, both sides have actively implemented the consensus reached by the heads of state, promoting the overall stable and positive development of bilateral relations. It has been widely noted by various sectors in both countries and the international community that the US has canceled the so-called 10% ‘fentanyl tariff’ imposed on Chinese goods, continued to suspend the 24% ‘reciprocal tariff’ on Chinese goods, and suspended the implementation of the penetrative export-control rule (the 50% rule expanding controls to affiliated companies), as well as the Section 301 investigation measures against Chinese shipbuilding and other industries. China has also correspondingly suspended its relevant countermeasures. These developments once again confirm a truth repeatedly verified by practice: China and the US benefit from cooperation and suffer from confrontation; mutual achievement and common prosperity are a clearly visible and tangible reality. 元首外交始终是引领中美关系发展的定盘星。中美元首釜山会晤不仅是两国关系的历史性时刻，也是国际关系中的标志性事件。会晤举行以来，双方积极落实元首共识，推动双边关系总体保持稳定向好。两国各界与国际社会普遍注意到，美方已取消针对中国商品加征的10%所谓“芬太尼关税”，继续暂停对中国商品加征的24%“对等关税”，同时暂停实施出口管制穿透性规则，暂停对华造船等行业的301调查措施。中方也相应暂停实施相关反制措施。这些进展再次印证了一个被实践反复验证的道理：中美“合则两利、斗则俱伤”，“相互成就、共同繁荣”是清晰可见、可感可及的现实图景.
The current overall stable and positive momentum in China-US relations is hard-won, benefiting from the leadership of both heads of state, and requires joint efforts from both sides to uphold. The partnership and friendship between the two countries is both a profound lesson from history and an inevitable requirement of current development. Both sides should adhere to the correct direction, uphold an attitude of equality, respect, and mutual benefit, extend the list of cooperation areas, reduce the list of issues, strive for more positive progress, open up new space for cooperation in China-US relations, and better benefit the people of both countries and the world. The Taiwan issue is the core of China’s core interests, an inviolable red line and a bottom line. President Xi Jinping solemnly clarified China’s principled position on the Taiwan issue during the phone call, emphasising that Taiwan’s return to China is an important part of the post-war international order. China and the US fought side by side against fascism and militarism; now, they should work together to safeguard the fruits of victory in World War II. President Trump stated that China played a crucial role in the victory of World War II, and the US understands the importance of the Taiwan issue to China. 当前中美关系总体稳定向好的势头来之不易，得益于两国元首的把舵领航，需要双方共同努力加以维护。两国做伙伴、做朋友，既是历史给予的深刻启示，也是现实发展的必然要求。双方应坚持正确方向，秉持平等、尊重、互惠态度，拉长合作清单、压缩问题清单，争取更多积极进展，为中美关系打开新的合作空间，更好造福两国人民和世界人民。台湾问题是中国核心利益中的核心，是不可触碰的红线和底线。习近平主席在通话中郑重阐明了中方在台湾问题上的原则立场，强调台湾回归中国是战后国际秩序重要组成部分。中美曾并肩抗击法西斯和军国主义，当前更应该共同维护好二战胜利成果。特朗普总统表示，中国当年为二战胜利发挥了重要作用，美方理解台湾问题对于中国的重要性.
The communication between the leaders of China and the US has significant practical implications. Recently, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi made a serious provocation on the Taiwan issue, openly declaring that a ‘Taiwan contingency’ could constitute a ‘survival-threatening situation’ for which Japan could exercise its right of collective self-defense, implying possible military intervention in the Taiwan Strait. This not only seriously violates the one-China principle but also constitutes a blatant provocation against the post-war international order, raising concerns and vigilance within the international community regarding Japan’s dangerous strategic moves. As countries that made enormous sacrifices for the victory in the World Anti-Fascist War and are permanent members of the UN Security Council, it is the shared responsibility of both sides to jointly safeguard the post-war international order and resolutely oppose any attempts and actions to revive militarism or undermine regional and global peace and stability. 中美元首的沟通具有重要现实意义。近期，日本首相高市早苗在台湾问题上严重越线挑衅，公然宣称“台湾有事”可能构成日本可行使集体自卫权的“存亡危机事态”，暗示可能武力介入台海。这不仅严重违背一个中国原则，更是对战后国际秩序的公然挑衅，已引发国际社会对日本危险战略动向的担忧和警惕。中美同为对世界反法西斯战争胜利付出巨大牺牲的国家、联合国安理会常任理事国，共同维护战后国际秩序，坚决阻击任何复活军国主义、破坏地区和世界和平稳定的图谋和行径，是双方的共同责任.
In the face of the endlessly emerging challenges of the era, China and the US, by jointly demonstrating the responsibility befitting major powers and adhering to mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win–win cooperation, can fully realise mutual achievement and common prosperity, join hands to do more major, practical, and beneficial things for the two countries and for the world, thereby better benefiting both nations and the world. 面对层出不穷的时代难题，中美共同展现大国担当，坚持相互尊重、和平共处、合作共赢，完全可以实现相互成就、共同繁荣，携手多办一些有利于两国和世界的大事、实事、好事，更好造福两国、惠及世界.
This is as straight-forward an admission as one can get that Xi basically asked Trump to reign in the Japanese leadership. WSJ reports that after the call with Xi, “Trump set up a call with Takaichi and advised her not to provoke Beijing on the question of Taiwan’s sovereignty, said Japanese officials and an American briefed on the call. The advice from Trump was subtle, and he didn’t pressure Takaichi to walk back her comments, those briefed on the calls said. The Japanese officials said the message was worrying: The president didn’t want friction over Taiwan to endanger a detente reached last month with Xi, which includes a promise to buy more agricultural products from American farmers hit hard by the trade war. Asked about the exchange with Takaichi, the White House issued a statement from Trump to The Wall Street Journal: ‘The United States relationship with China is very good, and that’s also very good for Japan, who is our dear and close ally. Getting along with China is a great thing for China and the U.S. In my opinion, President Xi will be substantially upping his purchase of soybean and other farm products, and anything good for our farmers is good for me.’ ‘We signed wonderful trade deals with Japan, China, South Korea, and many other nations, and the world is at peace,’ Trump added. ‘Let’s keep it that way!’ The Japanese prime minister’s office declined to comment.”
Meanwhile, Takaichi was asked to explain her remarks in the Japanese Parliament yesterday. A report on that says:
“Regarding Takaichi’s remarks that have drawn anger from China, Yoshihiko Noda, leader of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, asked, ‘Do you feel responsible for the deterioration of Japan-China relations?’ In response, Takaichi did not directly address responsibility for the remarks made in the Diet on Nov. 7, saying she was just answering a question. However, she said, ‘The questioner limited the topic to a Taiwan contingency and even mentioned the blockade of sea lanes. I did not want to go into specifics, but if I simply repeated the government’s previous answers over and over, there was a risk that the Budget Committee could be stalled. Since I was asked for specific examples, I intended to answer sincerely.’ She added, ‘I answered within the scope of what was asked, but the government’s unified view was decided by the Cabinet yesterday and stated as such—nothing more, nothing less.’ Regarding Taiwan, Takaichi said, ‘We maintain nongovernmental working-level relations. Having renounced all rights and claims under the Treaty of San Francisco, we are not in a position to recognize Taiwan’s legal status’.”
“Next, Takaichi was asked by Tetsuo Saito, leader of opposition Komeito, about her views on the ‘three non-nuclear principles’, which prohibit the possession and production of nuclear weapons in Japan, including not allowing them on Japanese soil. Takaichi stated, ‘As a matter of policy, we uphold them’, clarifying that she follows the traditional government stance. Regarding the accelerated revision of the three security-related documents, including the national security strategy targeted for next year, Takaichi said, ‘It is not a fact that I explicitly instructed a review of the three non-nuclear principles’.”
My Note: I think there has been a lot of over-reading of the Trump-Xi call and even more so with regard to the Trump-Takaichi call. I don’t think the US is being co-opted by Beijing into maintaining the post-war order, as much as that is how Beijing would like to frame the issue. But what is likely taking place is that the Trump administration is interested in sustaining the positive momentum in the broader US-China relationship for now. Trump is clearly keen on trying to ease domestic pressures on the farm sector and arrive at some sort of a broader economic agreement. This does not mean that he or the administration at large does not view the relationship from a competitive lens. Beijing, meanwhile, wants some tangible acquiescence on its position with regard to Taiwan and will use the opportunities presented to manufacture crises and leverage this moment to gain concessions that it can. This will heighten concerns for America’s regional allies, of course. That said, it is also true that Trump wants allies and partners to spend more on defense and pick up greater burdens. Consequently, they are all looking to spend more on defense and build greater capabilities. These change the balance of power rather than words. Moreover, on Taiwan, as much as there is anxiety around US policy, it is also the case that Trump’s administration has approved $1 billion in arms sales to Taiwan just this month. And if reports are correct, Taipei is looking to buy tens of billions worth of more weaponry. So, let’s not get carried away by X threads and narrative analysis, without taking into account the actual substantive developments.
Anyway, while on this issue, do read this NYT piece on, which argues that the economic costs imposed by China “have not dented her (Takaichi’s) popularity among Japan’s voters. If anything, they have increased her appeal as a conservative strong on defense. Young citizens in particular have praised her stance, in a sign that she has struck a cord with a Japanese electorate that has been increasingly willing to question the nation’s longstanding pacifism. And she has been backed by Japanese, American and Taiwanese officials…anti-China sentiment has increased in Japan, influenced by narratives of Chinese over-tourism, military expansion near Japanese islands and reports blaming Chinese nationals for driving up rents and land prices by buying assets in Japan. This attitude is especially shared among younger generations, a key demographic for Ms. Takaichi’s Liberal Democratic Party, whose popularity has weakened because it has strained to appeal to younger voters. A nationwide poll conducted last weekend by the Yomiuri Shimbun, Japan’s largest newspaper, showed that 64 percent of those aged 18-39 approved of the Takaichi government’s stance toward China. That compared to a 43 percent approval rate from those over 60, while the overall approval was 56 percent.”
Page 4: There are a couple of reports to note. First, the 2025 Guling Forum was held in NYC on November 25th. Yu Shaoliang, President of People’s Daily and China’s ambassador to the US Xie Feng delivered video addresses.
There’s a report on the appointment and removal of officials from State Council agencies.
Shen Yang has been appointed as Deputy Director of the National Ethnic Affairs Commission
Qin He has been appointed as Deputy Director of the National Religious Affairs Administration
Qiu Baoli has been appointed as Deputy Director of the Exit-Entry Administration of the People’s Republic of China
Song Gongde has been appointed as Director of the National Administration of State Secrets Protection
Liu Changsheng has been appointed as President of Chongqing University (vice-ministerial rank)
Li Zhaozong has been removed from the position of Director of the National Administration of State Secrets Protection
Shi Yingli has been removed from the position of Deputy Director of the National Administration of State Secrets Protection
Finally, there’s a report on the NPCSC holding its fifth training course for NPC deputies in Beijing from November 24 to 26, 2025. A total of 212 NPC deputies from 33 electoral units participated, focusing on in-depth study and implementation of the spirit of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee. The report says:
The training course included four thematic reports, covering topics such as earnestly studying Volume V of ‘Xi Jinping: The Governance of China,’ thoroughly studying and implementing the spirit of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, the achievements of China’s economic and social development during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, and the compilation of the ecological and environmental code. Relevant department officials were invited to give lectures, and exchanges on fulfilling their duties were organized. 学习班安排了4场专题报告，分别围绕认真学习《习近平谈治国理政》第五卷、深入学习贯彻党的二十届四中全会精神、“十四五”时期我国经济社会发展成就、生态环境法典编纂工作等内容，邀请有关部门负责同志进行讲解，并组织开展履职交流.
Page 6: There is a report on the violations of the 8-point central regulation in October.
In October this year, a total of 25,316 cases of violations were investigated and handled nationwide.
A total of 32,544 people were criticised, educated or disciplined. This included 1 provincial-level official and 114 prefectural-level officials. A total of 22,741 people received Party disciplinary or administrative sanctions.
A total of 12,555 cases of formalism and bureaucracy were investigated and handled nationwide.
A total of 12,761 cases of hedonism and extravagance were investigated and dealt with nationwide.
That’s it for the paper today. But earlier in the morning, the Chinese government put out a new white paper on arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation. Some excerpts:
“…the global security situation is complicated and menacing: Hegemonism, power politics, and unilateralism pose a severe threat to the post-war international order; geopolitical rivalry is intensifying; regional conflicts and unrest are becoming more frequent; and the arms race is escalating. Concurrently, issues related to international arms control, disarmament, and nonproliferation are becoming more complex and multidimensional.
Competition between major countries is impacting regional peace and security. A certain country seeks absolute strategic superiority by constantly expanding its armaments, strengthening combat readiness, and provoking bloc confrontation. This has led to escalated international and regional arms race, outbreaks of regional conflicts at multiple spots, and repeated new highs in global military expenditures. In particular, this country has strengthened military alliances in the Asia-Pacific region, exercised extended deterrence, and forward-deployed ground-based intermediate-range missiles, provoking tension and opposition and severely undermining the security and interests of countries in the region.
Global strategic stability faces severe threats. This certain country keeps adjusting its nuclear policies, stubbornly maintaining a massive nuclear weapons stockpile while further reinforcing its nuclear deterrence and war-fighting capabilities. This has resulted in rising risks of global nuclear conflicts. Meanwhile, missile defense technologies are advancing rapidly, and military applications in emerging fields such as outer space, cyberspace, and AI are developing at a fast pace. All these factors are reshaping the traditional strategic offense-defense dynamic, posing new challenges to global strategic stability.
The international arms control, disarmament, and nonproliferation regimes are eroding. This certain country has undermined the international arms control regime by withdrawing from relevant international agreements. The international nonproliferation regime has suffered from pragmatism and double standards. A handful of countries, driven by a ‘small yard with high fences’ mentality, pursue decoupling, sever industrial and supply chains, and restrict developing countries’ peaceful use of science and technology in the name of nonproliferation.
Security risks and challenges in emerging fields are becoming more prominent. With the rapid development of emerging technologies, uncontrolled use of technologies, data theft, technological crimes, and violation of ethics are on the rise. These issues highlight the absence of international rules and the lag in governance systems. The militarization trend in emerging fields is accelerating. This is destabilizing traditional principles of warfare and war ethics and posing new challenges to global security.
Rising calls for stronger arms control are in essence calls for peace and justice. The Global South is achieving greater autonomy in addressing global security and development affairs. The drive to promote a fair, just and reasonable international arms control regime and to safeguard world peace and stability is growing stronger. China is committed to upholding the international arms control regime with the UN at its core. It actively promotes sound global security governance and serves as a key promoter of international arms control.”
The section on China’s nuclear policy is important. I am summarising the key points:
Upholding a firm commitment to a policy of no-first-use of nuclear weapons and a nuclear strategy of self-defense. “China’s nuclear weapons are not intended to threaten other countries, but for defense and self-protection. China has never used nuclear weapons to threaten other countries nor deployed nuclear weapons outside its own territories, and has never provided a nuclear umbrella for other countries. Whether confronted with nuclear threats or blackmail during the Cold War, or in a complex international security environment with growing strategic security threats at present, China has always committed to its policy of no-first-use of nuclear weapons, firmly upheld a nuclear strategy of self-defense, and promoted the modernization of its nuclear forces to safeguard China’s own strategic security and overall global strategic stability. China’s greatest contribution to international nuclear arms control lies in the fact that it has the most stable, consistent and predictable nuclear policy among all nuclear-weapon states.”
Keeping China’s nuclear capabilities at the minimum level required for national security. “China has always exercised the utmost restraint regarding the scale and development of its nuclear weapons. It never has and never will engage in any nuclear arms race with any other country in terms of level of expenditure, quantity, or scale of nuclear weapons. In order to demonstrate its determination to avoid provoking a nuclear arms race, China has conducted the smallest number of nuclear tests among all nuclear-weapon states, and has closed down its nuclear weapon research and production facilities in areas including Chongqing and Qinghai. In building a lean and effective nuclear force system, China is improving its capabilities in strategic early warning, command and control, missile penetration, and rapid response, as well as its survivability, in order to ensure the safety, security, reliability and effectiveness of its nuclear weapons and deter other countries from using or threatening to use nuclear weapons against China.”
Attaching great importance to the safe management and use and effective control of nuclear weapons. “China has strict laws and regulations and reliable technical means to implement safety management throughout the entire process of nuclear weapons storage, transportation and training. These effectively prevent any risk of an unauthorized or accidental launch of nuclear missiles, and ensure that the nuclear force is kept absolutely safe and reliable. The command of nuclear forces in China is highly centralized under a streamlined and efficient process, which ensures that unit operations are carried out in the strictest and most accurate compliance with the orders of the Central Military Commission
Adopting nuclear transparency, confidence-building, and risk reduction measures. China maintains that nuclear transparency should be conducive to strategic mutual trust, take full account of the security environment and interests of each country, and be implemented by themselves voluntarily in accordance with their national conditions. Given the current international security situation, transparency in intentions and policies is of the most practical significance. China firmly follows a path of peaceful development, pursues a nuclear strategy of self-defense, and commits to a no-first-use policy on nuclear weapons. This is the most practical measure of transparency. Since 1995, China has published two white papers on arms control and 10 on national defense, and submitted six national reports on the implementation of the NPT, explaining China’s nuclear policy and strategy as well as the development of its nuclear capabilities. China has taken a number of confidence-building measures. It has voluntarily notified relevant countries of ballistic missile launches, and signed the Agreement on Notifications of Ballistic Missile and Carrier Rocket Launches with Russia. In September 2024, China notified relevant countries in advance of launching an intercontinental ballistic missile into the Pacific Ocean. Due to the vast differences between nuclear-weapon states in their nuclear forces and policies, and in their security environment, there are no measures to reduce nuclear risks that can be universally applied. China advocates prioritizing crisis prevention and opposes the hypocritical approach of inciting confrontation and creating crises while calling for the reduction of nuclear risks. Nuclear-weapon states should effectively reduce the nuclear risks by abandoning the policy of aggressive nuclear deterrence based on the first use of nuclear weapons and reducing the role of nuclear weapons in their national and collective security policies.”
Promoting the effective operation of the P5 mechanism.
On nuclear disarmament, the paper makes several interesting points.
“China advocates that all nuclear-weapon states should make an unequivocal commitment not to seek permanent possession of nuclear weapons, and seek to conclude a legal instrument on the complete prohibition and thorough destruction of such weapons. Nuclear disarmament should be a just and reasonable process of gradual reduction towards a downward balance that maintains global strategic stability and undiminished security for all, and should be proceeded in a step-by-step manner. Countries possessing the largest nuclear arsenals should fulfill their special and primary responsibilities for nuclear disarmament and continue to make drastic and substantive reductions in their nuclear arsenals in a verifiable, irreversible and legally-binding manner, so as to create the conditions for complete and thorough nuclear disarmament. When conditions are ripe, all nuclear-weapon states should join the multilateral nuclear disarmament negotiation process.”
China supports the “purposes and objectives of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT).”
“China supports negotiating and concluding a multilateral, nondiscriminatory, and internationally verifiable FMCT on the basis of agreeing a comprehensive and balanced program of work and the universal participation of all key stakeholders in accordance with the Shannon Report and the mandate contained therein.”
China calls for “mutual no-first-use of nuclear weapons. The adoption of a no-first-use policy is a practical move to reduce the role of nuclear weapons in national security policies and achieve the goal of nuclear disarmament. If the five nuclear-weapon states – China, France, Russia, the UK, and the US – could reach a consensus on mutual no-first-use of nuclear weapons, it would be conducive to reducing strategic risks, avoiding nuclear arms races, and promoting global strategic balance and stability.
Among other things, non-proliferation section of the document says this about AUKUS:
“The nuclear submarine cooperation between the US, the UK, and Australia involves the first transfer of naval nuclear propulsion reactors and weapons-grade highly enriched uranium from nuclear-weapon states to a non-nuclear-weapon state. This apparently runs counter to the object and purpose of the NPT and severely undermines the international nuclear nonproliferation regime. China maintains that relevant safeguards arrangements should be thoroughly discussed by member states of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) through an intergovernmental process, and decisions should be made by consensus. China firmly opposes nuclear sharing, extended deterrence, and other arrangements that undermine the international nuclear nonproliferation regime, and urges relevant countries to stop deploying nuclear weapons abroad.”
The peaceful uses of nuclear energy section informs: China has signed intergovernmental cooperation agreements on the peaceful uses of nuclear energy with more than 30 countries and regions, sent experts on more than 4,000 trips to serve countries in the Global South, and provided training sessions with over 6,000 recorded attendances from abroad.
The missiles and missile defense section says:
“The issue of missiles and missile defense has a significant impact on global strategic balance and stability. After the Cold War, a certain country withdrew from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty (ABM Treaty) and the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF Treaty) and developed global strategic missile defense capabilities, blurring the line between missile defense and strategic offense on purpose and stirring up confrontation among major countries. This has severely undermined strategic mutual trust, increased strategic risks, and damaged global and regional security and stability. China has always addressed issues related to missiles and missile defense from the perspective of maintaining global strategic stability and improving mutual trust.
Firmly opposing the deployment of missiles and missile defense systems that undermine the legitimate security interests of other countries. In pursuit of absolute security, this certain country has advanced the Golden Dome global missile defense system without restraint and sought to deploy weapons in outer space, severely threatening outer space security. It has promoted the forward deployment of intermediate-range missile systems in the Asia-Pacific region and Europe and leveraged the military alliance system to facilitate the proliferation of related weapon systems and technologies, undermining the global strategic balance and stability. China firmly opposes such arrangements and urges the country to stop the development and deployment of global missile defense systems, and to cease the forward deployment of offensive weapons including missiles. China will resolutely counter any acts that threaten or undermine its core interests.
Properly developing missile technologies for self-defense. China has a vast territory and must deal with a complex and volatile security environment. To safeguard its security and sovereignty and deter wars, China requires modern military equipment and capabilities adapted to its conditions and needs. China’s development of missile technologies and missile defense capabilities is motivated exclusively by self-defense and does not target any country or region.”
There are also separate sections on biosecurity, chemical weapons and conventional weapons.
The section on outer space says:
“Working on the prevention of an arms race in outer space. An arms race in outer space constitutes the gravest and most fundamental threat to outer space security. Countering this threat is essential for ensuring peace, stability and sustainability in outer space, and reaching a legally binding instrument on arms control in outer space through negotiation is the fundamental solution. The Chinese-Russian draft of the Treaty on the Prevention of the Placement of Weapons in Outer Space, the Threat or Use of Force Against Outer Space Objects (PPWT), initially submitted to the CD in 2008 and updated in 2014, formed the basis of the negotiation and conclusion of a legally binding instrument on outer space arms control. China facilitated the establishment of the UN Group of Governmental Experts on Further Practical Measures for the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space in 2017, and again in 2022, making substantive contributions to the formulation of a legally binding instrument in this regard. China’s vision of a community with a shared future for humanity in the exploration and peaceful use of outer space has gained wide international support, with its inclusion in relevant UN General Assembly resolutions for several consecutive years.”
The section on cybersecurity talks about cyber sovereignty. It also says:
“China opposes attempts to ‘own the domain’ from a position of strength and carry out large-scale, systemic and indiscriminate theft and cyberattacks around the globe. It condemns a certain country’s wanton targeting of other nations’ critical infrastructure in cyberattacks, which places global critical infrastructure at grave risk. It rejects the introduction of ideological confrontation and military alliance into cyberspace under the guise of ‘cybersecurity cooperation’, including the deployment of cyber forces in the Asia-Pacific region, and the proliferation of cyber weapons and systems, which may increase risks of miscalculation and escalation.”
“China supports the establishment of a cybersecurity process under the UN framework with the participation of all parties, and promotes the formulation and implementation of universally accepted international rules on cybersecurity…China is an active participant in the UN Group of Governmental Experts on Developments in the Field of ICTs in the Context of International Security and the UN Open-Ended Working Group on Security of and in the Use of ICTs. It has advanced the adoption of the Framework for Responsible State Behavior in the use of ICTs based on the International Code of Conduct for Information Security. This framework explicitly affirms the applicability of the UN Charter to cyberspace, respects states’ sovereignty, and stands as the sole code of conduct for states in global emerging technology governance. China is committed to full observation and implementation of the framework, and calls for developing new global rules on cyber and digital security in light of evolving circumstances and technological advancement. It maintains a prudent approach towards the application of the law of armed conflict to cyberspace issues, and encourages the formulation of new international legal instruments through inclusive discussions among all parties when condition permits.”
“In November 2024, it (China) proposed the Global Cross-Border Data Flow Cooperation Initiative to facilitate global cooperation on cross-border data flows and establish an efficient, convenient and secure mechanism for international data transfer.”
The section on military applications of AI says:
“China believes that military applications of AI should never undermine humanity’s wellbeing; instead, they should facilitate trust among countries, help maintain global strategic stability, and prevent arms races. Human primacy must be upheld and human beings rather than weapons should be the decisive element for the outcome of a war. It is essential to ensure that human beings take the ultimate responsibility and that all relevant weapons systems are under human control to prevent unauthorized actions. The application of AI in the military domain must be conducted in accordance with International Humanitarian Law and other applicable international laws.”
China calls for “an international governance framework for the military applications of AI.”
“China does not and will not engage in any AI arms race with other countries; rather it advances its military intelligence and builds its modern military forces with Chinese characteristics in accordance with global military revolution trends, national security requirements, the practical needs of national defense, and the realities of its military development. Remaining prepared to worst-case scenarios and potential threats, China highlights the necessity to establish a quality control system and risk response mechanism, takes necessary measures to mitigate proliferation risks, and strengthens AI-related military ethics and security education.”
The final section deals with non-proliferation and peaceful uses. The paper talks about China strengthening export control mechanisms. But this is key from an Indian perspective, given Delhi’s goal to join the NSG.
“As a participant of the Nuclear Suppliers Group, China always maintains that strengthening the universality, authority and effectiveness of the NPT should be the goal of and criterion for the Group’s work. China actively participates in discussions related to the revision and improvement of the Group’s guidelines and control lists. China supports the reasonable proposition of the developing countries, represented by the Non-Aligned Movement, that nonproliferation concerns are best addressed through multilaterally negotiated, universal, comprehensive and nondiscriminatory agreements. Based on this position, China maintains contacts with mechanisms such as the Missile Technology Control Regime, the Australia Group and the Wassenaar Arrangement, and encourages the relevant mechanisms to maintain their technical nature, fulfill their commitments to not interfering with peaceful uses and normal international trade in relevant fields, and play a constructive role in promoting common security and universal development.”