China has no intention of joining an arms race. But given some countries' tendency to bolster their military power, how can China be expected to forgo its right to set up an effective self-defense system? 

China plays a constructive and stabilizing role in the global security strategy framework and has vowed not to be the first to use nuclear weapons, reflecting a more reasonable security idea. Different from "mutual assured destruction" that is based on a "mirror-imaging" armament structure, China pursues asymmetric strategic stability, which depends on its comparatively low-level and defensive armament, to help maintain the international and regional strategic balance. 

China and the US are major beneficiaries of the post-World War II international order. In the security field, the UN Security Council now has more members. In the economic field, G20 has replaced G8. But the international order's basic structure and purpose remain valuable and functional. More countries including China and the US should prevent proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and arms race to maintain the current system. 

The author is a senior research fellow with China Arms Control and Disarmament Association. 

(China Daily 04/11/2013 page9)