China warns of World War III with ‘nuclear sword hanging over our heads’ over Putin’s plan to send nukes to Belarus

China has called for superpowers to step back from the brink of nuclear war as Russia announces a plan to deploy tactical nukes.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin (R) shakes hands with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping. Picture: Sergei Chirikov / POOL / AFP

China has issued a warning of a possible World War III after Russia’s announcement to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus.

Geng Shuang, China’s representative in the United Nations, called for all world powers to step back from the brink and maintain “global strategic stability”.

He urged nations to prevent nuclear proliferation and crisis, avoid armed attacks against nuclear power plants and the use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine.

Speaking at a Security Council meeting on international peace, Shuang made clear China’s opposition to Kremlin’s plan to send nuclear weapons to Minsk.

China’s representative in the UN, Geng Shuang, warned of the possibility of World War III following Russia’s plan to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus. Picture: AFP

He described nuclear weapons as “the sword of Damocles hanging over our heads” and called on all nuclear weapon states to reduce the risk of a nuclear war and avoid any armed conflict between nuclear weapons states.

“We call for the abolition of the nuclear-sharing arrangements and advocate no deployment of nuclear weapons abroad by all nuclear weapons states, and the withdrawal of nuclear weapons deployed abroad,” Shuang said.

Shuang stressed that “nuclear proliferation must be prevented and nuclear crisis avoided.” He added that “a nuclear war cannot be won and must not be fought,” and that China’s position on nuclear weapons has been “clear and consistent”.

China has firmly committed to a defensive nuclear strategy, not using or threatening to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear weapon states or nuclear-weapon-free zones, and to no first use of nuclear weapons at any time and under any circumstances.

While not directly mentioning Russia, Geng called for all parties to “stay rational, avoid aggravating tensions, and intensifying frictions, or fanning the flames”.

China has claimed to maintain a neutral stance in the war but has also pointed out its “no-limits friendship with Russia”.

Last month, China released a point peace plan to end the war, calling for a ceasefire and talks between Ukraine and Russia.

Belarus and Putin’s plan to deploy nuclear weapons in Belarus was criticised by Ukraine and welcomed by Belarus. Picture: AFP

Ukraine’s UN Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya welcomed Beijing’s stand, telling the council, “To the credit of the Chinese side, the Chinese side reminded Moscow in a very sensible manner that nuclear war cannot be won and fought, and that nuclear proliferation must be prevented.”

He also criticised Russia for violating a pledge made to China’s President Xi Jinping in a joint statement at their recent meeting in Moscow, declaring that all nuclear states should refrain from deploying nuclear weapons outside their countries and withdraw those deployed abroad.

China's President Xi Jinping. China has stressed the importance of preventing nuclear proliferation and crisis and called for the abolition of nuclear-sharing arrangements and no deployment of nuclear weapons abroad by all nuclear weapons states. Picture: AFP

Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the plan to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, which Ukraine branded a “desperate Kremlin attempt to avoid military defeat and threaten the world with nuclear apocalypse.”

Belarus UN Ambassador Valentin Rybakov said the plan was a “reaction to the challenges and risks to national security” his country faces.

It comes a day after Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said that Putin might also deploy strategic nuclear weapons in Belarus if he feels threatened.

In a speech, Lukashenko said that the nuclear arms on its territory would help protect Belarus, which he said was under threat from the West.

He added that “it is impossible to defeat a nuclear power. If the Russian leadership understands that the situation threatens to cause Russia’s disintegration, it will use the most terrible weapon. This cannot be allowed.”

– with The Sun