Limiting the role of nuclear weapons. China has clearly stated on many occasions that China has always pursued a nuclear strategy of self-defense and does not engage in nuclear arms races with any other country. The sole purpose of China’s nuclear weapons is to maintain national strategic security by deterring other countries from using or threatening to use nuclear weapons against China. China does not develop or deploy tactical nuclear weapons, constantly calls on nuclear-weapon States to reduce the role of nuclear weapons in national security strategies, and advocates that nuclear-weapon States should reaffirm the understanding that “a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought” and undertake not to target nuclear weapons at any country. It shows that limiting the role of nuclear weapons is a nuclear responsibility that China vigorously promotes.

Safeguarding international nuclear arms control and non-proliferation regime. China has repeatedly called on all countries to safeguard the international nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime based on the NPT, the existing multilateral arms control mechanisms such as the United Nations and the Conference on Disarmament, and relevant treaties including the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. China opposes the withdrawal from and non-compliance with relevant treaties. China also attaches great importance to the cooperation mechanism among the five nuclear-weapon States (P5 process) and believes that nuclear-weapon States should enhance strategic mutual trust and reduce nuclear risks through dialogue. It can be concluded that safeguarding the effectiveness and authority of multilateralism and the international nuclear arms control and non-proliferation regime is another important nuclear responsibility acknowledged by China.

The analysis of China’s understanding of nuclear responsibilities sheds some light on relevant international discussions. First of all, the nuclear responsibilities championed by China in its practice are complementary to the common nuclear responsibilities of nuclear-weapon States. For example, limiting the use and role of nuclear weapons is an important step in promoting nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. Secondly, as a country’s nuclear policy and practice are based on its national security interests, so are its nuclear responsibilities. The nuclear responsibilities promoted by China reflect the integration of national security interests and state obligations under international law. Thirdly, the differences in national security interests and capabilities require the international community to pursue “common but differentiated” nuclear responsibilities. For example, in terms of nuclear disarmament, countries with the largest nuclear arsenals should fulfill their special and primary responsibility by further reducing their nuclear weapons substantially. Meanwhile, other nuclear-weapon States should maintain the number of their nuclear weapons at the lowest level needed for their national security. Finally, under the current international security landscape, the advocacy of nuclear responsibilities for limiting the use and role of nuclear weapons is conducive to reducing nuclear risks and easing the concerns of the international community. Nuclear-weapon States should pursue common ground on this issue through dialogues to jointly promote world peace and security. In addition, the nuclear-weapon States should also strengthen the communication with non-nuclear-weapon States and make joint efforts to move towards a nuclear-weapon-free world.