China Issues Warning on ‘Risks’ of Nuclear War

China has issued a warning about the “risks” of nuclear war in response to Russian President Vladimir Putin saying that Moscow’s strategic nuclear forces are “in a state of full readiness” during his annual state of the nation address on Thursday.

Putin said during his address that the chances of nuclear war would increase if Western nations send troops to Ukraine, as suggested by French President Emmanuel Macron earlier this week. Putin also said Russia has “weapons that can hit targets on their territory” and that “threatens a conflict with the use of nuclear weapons and the destruction of civilization. Don’t they get that?”

His remarks sparked global condemnation, as other world leaders have long urged against nuclear threats amid the Russia-Ukraine war.

Since that conflict began in February 2022, concerns about the potential use of nuclear weapons have risen. While Russian authorities have long sought to downplay such fears, pundits on Russian state TV, which aligns with the Kremlin, have repeatedly discussed the possibility of nuclear war, fueling concerns.

Mao Ning, a spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry, responded to Putin’s remarks during a press conference on Friday.

“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 continued: “Under the current circumstances, parties need to jointly seek de-escalation and lower strategic risks.”

Newsweek has reached out to Russia’s Foreign Affairs Ministry for comment via email.

A spokesperson for the State Department previously told Newsweek that U.S. authorities are taking “Putin’s threats to use nuclear weapons seriously, as we have throughout Russia’s war against Ukraine,” describing his rhetoric as “irresponsible” and “no way for the leader of a nuclear armed state to speak.”

“We will not be intimidated by Putin’s rhetoric,” the spokesperson said. “Putin knows what would happen if he uses this kind of weapon—we’ve communicated directly and privately with Russia about the consequences.”

Mircea Geoana, deputy secretary general of NATO, told Spanish newspaper El Pais that Putin’s comments are “part of their arsenal of intimidation and psychological pressure.”

“We have seen nuclear threats from Russian leaders at least since the start of the war two years ago. It represents great irresponsibility for a nuclear superpower like Russia, which has the obligation to act with moderation,” he said.