BEIJING – The United States is the biggest disruptor to the international arms control and nonproliferation system, China's foreign ministry said on Friday, urging Washington to carefully examine its own actions and actively respond to the concerns of the international community.
Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun made the remarks at a daily news briefing when asked to comment on the so-called "adherence to and compliance with arms control, nonproliferation, and disarmament agreements and commitments" in a report recently released by the US State Department.
The US government has year after year concocted such reports, groundlessly smearing other countries while saying nothing about its own negative moves in arms control, nonproliferation and disarmament, he said.
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This is typical hegemonic logic and double standards, he said, adding that China has made clear of its opposition more than once and lodged serious protests.
In the work of arms control and nonproliferation worldwide, China has remained committed to true multilateralism, firmly safeguarded the international system with the UN at its core and the international order based on international law, earnestly fulfilled its international obligations and commitments, and taken concrete actions to uphold the international arms control and nonproliferation system, said Guo.
The US has vigorously built up its military strength, instigated major-country confrontations and gravely undermined global and regional strategic stability and has wantonly withdrawn from international treaties and organizations, ignored international order, rules and obligations, and acted as the biggest disruptor to the international arms control and nonproliferation system in recent years, he said.
"How ironic it is that the US issued such a report.”
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“We urge the US to take a hard look at itself, take active actions to respond to international concerns over its own compliance with relevant agreements, and earnestly fulfill its international obligations and commitments, rather than divert attention and shirk responsibility by slinging mud on China,” added Guo.
Regional stability, development
Responding to a query on recent comments by a US official suggesting that Latin American countries should choose sides between the US and China, the spokesperson said Washington should make tangible efforts for regional stability and development, rather than pressuring Latin American countries to choose sides.
Latin American and Caribbean countries are independent sovereign countries, he said, adding that other countries are in no position to tell them what to do, still less publicly or privately coerce and threaten them.
"China has always adhered to the principles of mutual respect, equality, mutual benefit, openness, inclusiveness, and win-win cooperation in its friendly cooperation with Latin American and Caribbean countries. This has significantly enhanced the well-being of the peoples on both sides.”
Bloc confrontation runs counter to the trend of history and development, and is doomed to fail, said Guo.
"We advise the United States that rather than spending time pressuring Latin American countries to choose sides, it should make concrete efforts that are conducive to the region's stability and development," he added.
