China releases a new white paper on arms control

On November 27, the Chinese government released a new white paper entitled “China’s Arms Control, Disarmament and Non-Proliferation in the New Era”. This strategic document outlines Beijing’s official position on arms control and provides insight into its broader security and non-proliferation policy.

The white paper presents China as a committed participant in multilateral mechanisms, particularly within the United Nations framework. It reiterates China’s “strictly defensive” defense doctrine and emphasizes the role of dialogue and international cooperation in maintaining global strategic stability.

A significant part of the document focuses on emerging domains such as outer space, cyberspace and artificial intelligence. These areas reflect China’s growing attention to technological developments that increasingly shape modern security challenges and global power balances.

This publication is the first white paper on arms control released since the 18th Party Congress in 2012. It signals a renewed effort by Beijing to clarify its stance on arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation issues at a time of rising geopolitical tensions and expanding regulation of sensitive technologies.

For companies and stakeholders exposed to international trade and export control regulations, this document highlights the evolving strategic environment in China, particularly regarding technologies with military or dual-use applications.