China Disappointed at the Deadlock in Nuclear Disarmament Talks at the UN

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning (ANTARA/Desca Lidya Natalia)

JAKARTA - The Chinese government regrets the failure of the 2026 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference (NPT RevCon) which ended without producing a consensus at the United Nations Headquarters, New York on May 22.

"This 11th Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) was held at a time when global strategic balance and stability were seriously disrupted, including the multilateral arms control process being increasingly politicized, bloc-based, and fragmented. China regrets the failure of the conference to reach a consensus," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning at a press conference in Beijing, Monday, May 25, reported by ANTARA.

The conference took place at the UN Headquarters from April 27 to May 22, 2026. Indonesia also became the Coordinator of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) representing 118 member countries to ensure that the implementation of the NPT is balanced on the three main pillars, namely nuclear disarmament, non-proliferation, and the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.

"China believes that the NPT remains the foundation for the international non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament regime. This agreement is an irreplaceable pillar in the post-World War II international security architecture, so it is in the interest of all countries to continue to firmly support the goals and objectives of the NPT," continued Mao Ning.

China, said Mao Ning, pays great attention to the agreement, and supports the universality, effectiveness, and authority of the agreement.

"The Chinese delegation has participated intensively and constructively in this review conference with a spirit of solidarity and coordination," said Mao Ning.

Mao Ning said China called on all countries to uphold true multilateralism and the concept of common security; improve the international and regional security environment; earnestly maintain global strategic stability; eliminate the root causes of nuclear weapons proliferation; and create more conducive conditions to promote the process of regular nuclear disarmament.

Other proposals are to resolve crucial issues related to nuclear non-proliferation peacefully through dialogue and negotiations; defend the legitimate rights and interests of all countries concerned with the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes; and make full use of the NPT's important role for peace and development.

The 11th Review Conference took place amid rising global nuclear risks, including the modernization of weapons, the potential for nuclear tests, and the use of new technologies such as artificial intelligence in nuclear command and control systems. Currently, there are more than 12,000 nuclear warheads still maintained by a number of countries.

At the closing session, Indonesia expressed disappointment that no substantive final document was reached at the conference because nuclear disarmament is not an abstract agenda, but a real need for global peace, stability and security.

Indonesia also emphasized that non-nuclear-weapon states had strictly fulfilled their non-proliferation obligations under the NPT. Meanwhile, nuclear-weapon states were encouraged to take concrete steps in implementing their disarmament obligations in accordance with Article VI of the NPT.

The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) came into force in 1970 and was extended indefinitely in 1995.

Based on the treaty, countries that have nuclear weapons are required not to transfer ownership or control to recipient countries of nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices, and in no way assist, encourage or persuade non-nuclear-weapon states to produce, acquire or control such weapons or devices.

Currently, there are 9 countries in the world that have nuclear weapons, namely the United States, Russia, China, France, Britain, Pakistan, India, Israel and North Korea.

The NPT also stipulates that non-nuclear-weapon states are obliged not to receive any transfer or control of nuclear weapons or nuclear explosive devices, and not to produce or acquire such weapons or devices, and not to seek or receive any assistance in this regard.

The non-nuclear-weapon States further undertake to accept safeguards to be carried out by the International Atomic Energy Agency on all sources or special fissionable material in all peaceful nuclear activities within their territories or under their jurisdiction with a view to preventing diversion of such sources or material to nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices.