Nuclear

[Bilingual] China's Nuclear Policy Has Always Maintained a High Degree of Stability, Continuity, and Predictability

【双语】中国核政策始终保持高度稳定性、连续性和可预见性

PLA Daily (解放军报) 16 June 2026

Summary

MND Spokesperson Senior Colonel Chen Xi, responding to the SIPRI 2025 yearbook's findings on Chinese nuclear expansion, reiterated on June 16 China's standard no-first-use posture and 'minimum deterrence' framing, rejecting U.S. and Japanese characterizations of a large-scale, non-transparent buildup. The response documents the institutional reflex to deflect external assessments of nuclear growth by invoking policy continuity rather than engaging the underlying data — a pattern that extends across every MND response to SIPRI or Pentagon nuclear reporting since at least 2021. The gap between the 'minimum level' formulation and the documented expansion of silos, warheads, and delivery systems is the standing analytic problem this article does not resolve.

Translation

China's Nuclear Policy Has Always Been Stable, Consistent and Predictable

On the afternoon of June 16, Ministry of National Defense Spokesperson Senior Colonel Chen Xi released information on recent military-related issues.

Reporter: According to reports, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute recently released a report stating that China has significantly advanced the modernization of its nuclear forces over the past year and continues to expand its nuclear arsenal. The United States and Japan have been clamoring about China conducting a "large-scale and non-transparent nuclear forces buildup." What is your comment on this?

Question: The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute reportedly stated in its recent report that China has significantly modernized its nuclear capabilities over the past year, and continues to expand its nuclear arsenal. In addition, the US and Japan keep peddling the narrative of China's massive and non-transparent nuclear build-up. What's your comment on this?

Chen Xi: China adheres to a nuclear strategy of self-defense (自卫防御), firmly pursues a policy of no-first-use of nuclear weapons, always maintains its own nuclear forces at the minimum level required for national security, does not participate in any nuclear arms race, and has played an important role in maintaining global strategic stability. China's nuclear policy has always maintained a high degree of stability, continuity, and predictability. Relevant parties should cease groundless speculation and hype (无端臆测、渲染炒作).

Chen Xi: China follows a nuclear strategy of self-defense and a nuclear policy of no first use of nuclear weapons. We always keep our nuclear capabilities at the minimum level required for national security, and never engage in any forms of nuclear arms race, playing a significant role in maintaining global strategic stability. China's nuclear policy has always been stable, consistent and predictable. Relevant parties should stop unfounded speculations and propaganda.

Original Chinese

China’s Nuclear Policy Has Always Been Stable, Consistent and Predictable 6月16日下午，国防部新闻发言人陈曦大校就近期涉军问题发布消息。记者：据报道，斯德哥尔摩国际和平研究所近日发布报告称，中国在过去一年大幅推进核力量现代化建设并继续扩大核武库。美国和日本鼓噪中国开展“大规模且不透明的核力量建设”。请问对此有何评论？ Question:The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute reportedly stated in its recent report that China has significantly modernized its nuclear capabilities over the past year, and continues to expand its nuclear arsenal. In addition, the US and Japan keep peddling the narrative of China’s massive and non-transparent nuclear build-up. What’s your comment on this? 陈曦：中方坚持自卫防御的核战略，坚定奉行不首先使用核武器政策，始终将自身核力量维持在国家安全需要的最低水平，不参与任何核军备竞赛，为维护全球战略稳定发挥了重要作用。中国的核政策始终保持高度稳定性、连续性和可预见性，有关方应停止无端臆测、渲染炒作。 Chen Xi:China follows a nuclear strategy of self-defense and a nuclear policy of no first use of nuclear weapons. We always keep our nuclear capabilities at the minimum level required for national security, and never engage in any forms of nuclear arms race, playing a significant role in maintaining global strategic stability. China’s nuclear policy has always been stable, consistent and predictable. Relevant parties should stop unfounded speculations and propaganda.