Chinese FM calls for nuclear restraint amid global tensions

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called for nuclear restraint and for upholding multilateralism and the international order to safeguard global peace and security during a meeting with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi on Thursday in Beijing.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said the post-WWII global order faces unprecedented tests, and the United Nations-centered system is experiencing a crisis of trust as some countries are trampling rules through power and replacing cooperation with coercion. He warned of the real danger of a return to "the law of the jungle."

Highlighting the impact of the current conflicts spilling over at an accelerated pace, Wang stressed that if nuclear facilities are targeted, there will be immeasurably serious consequences and the people of the region will be plunged into a dire situation. He called for an immediate halt to hostilities and a return to dialogue and negotiations as the only way to address the root causes of conflict. "History has repeatedly shown that military aggression is never the right path," Wang said.

He emphasized China's commitment to multilateralism, upholding the authority of the UN Charter and strengthening the United Nations. He noted the IAEA's critical role in global nuclear governance, underscoring its growing international responsibilities, and expressed China's willingness to deepen cooperation with the agency to safeguard the nuclear non-proliferation system and contribute to global peace.

Grossi said the world faces unprecedented uncertainty and countries must work together to meet these challenges. He praised the four China-proposed global initiatives, noting they demonstrate China's firm support for an UN-centered international system.

Grossi said that as a major nuclear power and key IAEA member, China's engagement is vital. He confirmed the IAEA's commitment to the one-China policy and expressed readiness to strengthen communication and cooperation with China on hot-spot issues, promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy, and jointly maintain the international nuclear non-proliferation framework and world peace.