Beijing: China today (Dec 29, 2006) said it will maintain a credible nuclear deterrent force to maintain national sovereignty but will never enter into a nuclear arms race with any other country.

"Its fundamental goal is to deter other countries from using or threatening to use nuclear weapons against China," a White Paper on National Defence issued here said.

"It has never entered and will never enter into a nuclear arms race with any other country," it defence policy document says.

The White Paper, the fifth since 1998, and issued by the Information Office of the State Council, China's cabinet, says China's nuclear strategy is subject to the state's nuclear policy and military strategy.

China remains firmly committed to the policy of no first use of nuclear weapons at any time and under any circumstances, the White Paper says.

"It unconditionally undertakes not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon states or nuclear-weapon-free zones, and stands for the comprehensive prohibition and complete elimination of nuclear weapons," the White Paper says.

It says that China upholds the principles of counter-attack in self-defence and limited development of nuclear weapons, and aims at building a lean and effective nuclear force capable of meeting national security needs.

China endeavours to ensure the security and reliability of its nuclear weapons and maintains a credible nuclear deterrent force, the White Paper says.

It says that China's nuclear force is under the direct command of the Central Military Commission and China exercises great restraint in developing its nuclear force.