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Beijing backs away from General Zhu's nuclear warnings

China has distanced itself from reported comments by a general last week that Beijing could use nuclear weapons to retaliate against the US if Washington attacked over Taiwan.

Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing (李肇星) said China would not be the first to use nuclear weapons "at any time and under any condition," the Xinhua news agency reported late on Thursday.

"China has consistently observed the commitment since its first nuclear test in 1964," Xinhua said, quoting Li as saying such a stance "will not be changed in the future."

The rebuttal followed comments by General Zhu Chenghu (朱成虎), who said last week that China could use nuclear weapons to retaliate against the US.

"If the Americans draw their missiles and position-guided ammunition on to the target zone on China's territory, I think we will have to respond with nuclear weapons," Zhu said.

Li insisted the general was speaking in a personal capacity only: "What the researcher said was only his personal view and did not represent the stance of the Chinese government."
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