China firmly supports establishing Southeast Asia nuclear weapon-free zone: defense ministry

BEIJING, July 14 (Xinhua) -- China firmly supports the establishment of a Southeast Asia nuclear weapon-free zone, a Chinese defense spokesperson said on Monday.

Jiang Bin, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense, said the establishment of a nuclear weapon-free zone in Southeast Asia is significant for promoting regional peace and stability, and is conducive to the fundamental security interests of ASEAN countries.

China has made clear its willingness to take the lead in signing the Protocol to the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone, he said.

Jiang made the remarks in response to recent comments by the Philippine Defense Secretary, who claimed that China's willingness to sign the protocol was merely symbolic, and that it should first denuclearize to show sincerity.

He stressed that China is the only nuclear-weapon state that has made an unconditional commitment of not using or threatening to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon states or nuclear weapon-free zones.

China's nuclear force and nuclear policy have been a significant contribution to world peace, which is widely recognized by the international community, the spokesperson added. ■