BEIJING, Jan. 6 (UPI) -- China won't make a first-strike nuclear attack, the country's Foreign Ministry spokesman said Thursday, calling reports to the contrary "totally groundless."
Spokesman Hong Lei said China would not strike first with nuclear weapons, responding to media reports indicating the country was considering possible changes to its non-first-strike policy, China's state-run news agency Xinhua reported.
"The Chinese government made a solemn promise since the very first day it possessed nuclear weapons not to be the first to use them at any time and under any circumstances," Hong said.
Reports said China was weighing the merits of a pre-emptive nuclear strike for self-defense against another nuclear state if other options weren't available, Xinhua said.
Hong called the reports "totally groundless (with) ulterior motives."
