DISSERTATION PROJECT

The People’s Republic of China’s Weapons of Mass Destruction Non-Proliferation Policy: Analysis and Future Directions

The global Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) non-proliferation regime (NPR) is currently facing significant pressure. Established arms control frameworks are weakened and contested. In this context, the role of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) as a recognized Nuclear-Weapon State (NWS) becomes increasingly important for the future of non-proliferation regime.

The PRC is not only a participant in the NPR but is also increasingly positioning itself as its defender and (potential) leader. This is clearly articulated in the White Paper China’s Arms Control, Disarmament and Non-Proliferation in the New Era (2025), where the PRC presents itself as a responsible leader, a supporter of UN-centered multilateralism, and a proponent of a reformed global order embedded in its broader Global Initiatives framework.

Against this background, this research project critically examines the PRC’s WMD non-proliferation policy, focusing on the gap between its discursive positioning and its practical behavior. The PRC promotes initiatives such as the No-First-Use (NFU) and emphasizes its commitment to international norms. However, its contributions have so far had limited tangible impact on strengthening the regime. Moreover, concerns persist regarding the PRC’s expanding nuclear arsenal and limited transparency. This raises the question of whether the PRC’s engagement with the NPR primarily serves as a tool for projecting the image of a responsible power and shaping international political dynamics, including the reinterpretation of key non-proliferation and disarmament norms.

The project applies National Role Theory (Holsti, 1970) to analyze how the PRC constructs its role within the NPR and how this role is translated into policy and practice. By examining official statements, policy documents, and behavior within international institutions, the research seeks to identify the national role conceptions and normative implications of the PRC’s actions.

Ultimately, the project aims to assess the PRC’s current and future role in the global non-proliferation regime and its broader impact on international peace and security. As a permanent member of the UN Security Council and a key actor in nuclear governance, the PRC’s policies and strategic choices will play a decisive role in shaping the evolution of the non-proliferation regime and the future of global order.

ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES

Publications

• “Comparative Study on Japanese and Chinese Nuclear Non-Proliferation Policy and Peacebuilding”. In: Hiroshima Peace Institute Web Essay (online), May 2025.

Presentations

• “Evolution of China’s Nuclear Non-Proliferation Policy: Reasons and Consequences”. pre-12th Symposium on CBRNE threats Spring Webinars, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, Association for Protection, Rescue, Security and Safety, Online, May 9, 2025.
• “Testimony of the Nuclear Explosions Sites in 20th and 21st Centuries – Ecosystem and Human Health Perspective”. 3rd Global History of Empires International Conference, Departament of Cultures, Politics, and Society, University of Turin, Italy, Sep 18–19, 2025.
• “China’s Weapons of Mass Destruction Non-Proliferation Policy”. 10th edition Nuclear History Summer Camp, Nuclear Proliferation International History Project (NPIHP) and Hiroshima Organization for Global Peace (HOPe), University of Hiroshima, Japan, Oct 6–16, 2025.
• “China’s New Role in the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Regime: SDG 16 & SDG 17”. 3rd UNITAR International Research Conference (3UIRC), United Nations Development Programme office, Brussels, Belgium, Dec 3–4, 2025.
• “Between Doctrine and Practice: China’s Nuclear Policy and Its Challenges for Disarmament Diplomacy”. 3rd National Scientific Conference “Challenges of Modern Diplomacy”, University of Lodz, Poland, May 14, 2026.
• “China and Nuclear Non-Proliferation in Central Asia: Norms, Influence, and Regional Security Dynamics”. National Scientific Conference “Inne stany: Azja Centralna” [Other States: Central Asia], Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Wrocław, Poland, May 15, 2026.

Funded Excursions

• EU Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Consortium / SIPRI intensive course “WMD non-proliferation and disarmament in a changing world”, online, organized by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) and the European Union Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Consortium (EUNPDC), Jan 20–23, 2026.
• ECPR Methods School “Critical Discourse Analysis”, online, organized by the European Consortium for Political Research, Feb 16–20, 2026.
• 11th Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), New York, USA, Apr 27 – May 9, 2026 (moderator of the side event “Nuclear Risks and Risk Reduction” on Apr 27; speaker at the Mayors for Peace Youth Forum on Apr 28, speaker at the UN “Youth Leaders Acting for Disarmament” on May 1; member on three delegations: Middle East Treaty Organization (METO), Parliamentarians for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament (PNND) and the UNODA Youth Leader Fund for the World without Nuclear Weapons).

Media Appearances

• Martyna SZOJA マルティナ・ショヤ: “Sanka-kara-no fukkō. Mune-ni kizamu” 惨禍からの復興 胸に刻む [Recovery from Disaster: A Memory to Remember], in: Chūgoku shinbun 中国新聞 2971, April 15, 2025.