Beijing’s comments come as cracks appear between the neighbors’ messaging on the nuclear option.
Beijing said Wednesday that nuclear powers should “jointly seek de-escalation” following Vladimir Putin’s statement that Russia is prepared for a possible nuclear conflict.
“From a military-technical point of view, we are, of course, ready, are constantly in a state of combat readiness,” the Russian leader said in an interview Tuesday when asked by state media whether the country was ready for nuclear war.
Concerns persist over Russia’s potential use of nuclear weapons, particularly during its ongoing war in Ukraine. Putin’s rhetoric and military actions have raised questions about the threshold for using Russia’s nukes in regional conflicts and suggest a strategic leveraging of nuclear capabilities to deter Western involvement.
In the interview, Putin said the nuclear button would be pressed if it was a matter of “the existence of the Russian state.” He pointed out that the U.
