China urged the United States on Friday to reduce its nuclear arsenal substantively, stop its proliferation of nuclear materials and technology, and refrain from extending deterrence or nuclear alliance.

"China firmly opposes the United States’ expansion of its nuclear arsenal and shirking of its nuclear disarmament responsibilities under the pretext of a non-existent "China nuclear threat”, Xinhua quoted Wu Qian, spokesperson for China’s Ministry of National Defense as saying

"China pursues a self-defense nuclear strategy and maintains its nuclear force at the minimum level required for national security” Wu added

He pointed out that "It is common knowledge that the US is in possession of the largest nuclear arsenal in the world, and that it follows a nuclear policy that permits the first use of nuclear weapons”

"In recent years, the US has invested heavily in the miniaturization of nuclear weapons for real combat and exercised double standards on nuclear proliferation, which is a severe threat to global strategic stability” Wu said.