On November 8, 2019, Director-General of the Department of Arms Control of the Foreign Ministry Fu Cong made remarks on "The Future of Arms Control and Non-Proliferation Regime" at the 2019 Moscow Non-Proliferation Conference. Fu Cong expressed, currently, the international arms control and non-proliferation regime is at a critical crossroads due to the following reasons: the global strategic stability architecture is under duress, great power rivalry is coming back with a vengeance, unilateralism is becoming the order of the day, and advances in emerging technologies bring about new security challenges.

Fu Cong said, China will continue to stand with the majority of the international community, by firmly advocating multilateralism, by preserving and enhancing the international arms control and non-proliferation regime, and by safeguarding the global strategic stability for the interest of international peace and security. To this end, China puts forward six propositions. First, we need to recognize the indivisibility of security and adopt a concept of common security. Fostering a regional and global security environment in which all countries feel safe will help reduce the motivation for an arms race and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Secondly, the famous motto that "a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought" should be re-affirmed by all Nuclear-weapon States. The U.S. should stop the development and deployment of its global missile defense system. The U.S. and Russia should further reduce their nuclear weapons, both deployed and in stockpile, so as to maintain the global strategic stability. Thirdly, Nuclear-weapon States should enhance dialogue on nuclear doctrines to avoid accidents and crises triggered by strategic misjudgment or miscalculation. Fourthly, imposition of unilateral sanctions in violation of international law should be resisted. We must promote political and diplomatic solutions of regional proliferation issues, including the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue and the Iranian nuclear issue. Fifthly, all states should make efforts to safeguard the system of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, the existing multilateral disarmament machinery such as the United Nations and the Conference on Disarmament, and treaties on international arms control, and work to establish a more open and inclusive global export control and non-proliferation regime. Finally, while respecting the rights of the peaceful uses of emerging technologies, the international community must regulate the military applications of emerging technologies including outer space, biology, cyberspace and artificial intelligence.

Fu Cong stressed, China is not interested in power games, never seeks hegemony, and has no intention of joining an arms race with any country. China will continue to follow the path of peaceful development, and unswervingly pursue a defensive nuclear strategy.