(Reuters) – China made impressive progress in the development of nuclear weapons but would only use them to defend itself, Wei Fenghe, China’s Defence Minister, stated Sunday at Shangri-La Dialogue.

Answering a question regarding reports that China had built more than 100 nuclear missile silos last year in China’s East, he replied that China had “always pursued an appropriate path to develop nuclear capability for the protection of our nation”.

He displayed nuclear weapons at a Beijing 2019 military parade. These included upgraded launchers to China’s DF 41 intercontinental ballistic Missiles. They were also operational and ready for deployment.

China has been developing its capabilities over the past five decades. He said that there had been “impressive progress.” China’s… policy has been consistent. This is for our self-defense. “We won’t be the first people to use nuclear weapons.”

According to him, the ultimate goal for China’s nuclear arsenal is to stop nuclear war.

“We built nuclear capability to defend the hardwork of the Chinese people, and also protect our people against the threat of nuclear war,” he stated.

Last year, the U.S. State Department called China’s nuclear accumulation concerning. It stated that Beijing appeared to be departing from decades of nuclear strategy that was based on minimal deterrence. China was asked to “engage with the U.S. State Department on practical measures to lower the chances of destabilizing arms races.”