China, France, the UK, the United States, and Russia issued a joint statement on Jan. 3, affirming that nuclear war and the proliferation of nuclear weapons ought to be avoided at all costs. “We affirm that a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought,” the statement said. “As nuclear use would have far-reaching consequences, we also affirm that nuclear weapons—for as long as they continue to exist—should serve defensive purposes, deter aggression, and prevent war. We believe strongly that the further spread of such weapons must be prevented.” The five nations, which make up the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, are all nuclear powers. Nevertheless, they pledged that “the ultimate goal of a world without nuclear weapons with undiminished security for all,” was their ultimate aim. A mere hours later, however, a Chinese official vowed that the country’s communist regime would continue its unprecedented …