China issued a warning on the perilous implications of nuclear warfare after Russian President Vladimir Putin's ominous declarations during his annual state of the nation address on Thursday, Newsweek reported.
Putin escalated global anxieties by asserting that Moscow's strategic nuclear forces stand "in a state of full readiness." He underscored the potential escalation to nuclear conflict should Western nations deploy troops to Ukraine, as proposed by French President Emmanuel Macron this week.
Putin's remarks, including veiled threats of nuclear annihilation, elicited widespread condemnation from global leaders who have long advocated against nuclear warfare during the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
The specter of nuclear confrontation has loomed large since the outset of the conflict in February 2022, with fears further stoked by discussions on Russian state TV, closely aligned with the Kremlin, which have repeatedly broached the possibility.
Responding to Putin, Mao Ning, a spokesperson for China's Foreign Ministry, emphasized the imperative of collective security and global stability.
"In January 2022, leaders of the five nuclear-weapon states issued a joint statement, affirming that a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought," she said. "China believes that all nuclear weapon states need to embrace the idea of common security and uphold global strategic balance and stability."
Mao underscored the urgent need for de-escalation and strategic risk reduction.
The U.S., a pivotal player in global security dynamics, has adamantly underscored the gravity of Putin's nuclear saber-rattling. A spokesperson for the State Department emphasized that U.S. authorities are treating Putin's threats with seriousness, characterizing them in a statement to Newsweek as "irresponsible" and antithetical to the obligations incumbent upon a nuclear-armed state.
"We will not be intimidated by Putin's rhetoric," the spokesperson said.
Speaking with Spanish newspaper El Pais, Mircea Geoana, deputy secretary general of NATO, denounced Putin's statements as tactics of intimidation and psychological warfare.
"We have seen nuclear threats from Russian leaders since the onset of the war two years ago," Geoana said. "It represents great irresponsibility for a nuclear superpower like Russia, which has the obligation to act with moderation."
Jim Thomas ✉
Jim Thomas is a writer based in Indiana. He holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science, a law degree from U.I.C. Law School, and has practiced law for more than 20 years.
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