A claim circulating widely on platforms alleges that Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a speech on state broadcaster CCTV demanding that the United States and Israel relinquish their nuclear weapons to prevent a third world war. The claim has been amplified through viral videos with subtitles presenting this as a recent official statement. However, after reviewing official government records, state media archives, and credible international reporting, we found this claim to be false.
Social Media Posts
The claim appears primarily in short video clips or screenshots shared across social media, often accompanied by captions stating that Xi Jinping warned the world that global war could only be avoided if the United States and Israel were stripped of their nuclear arsenals.
Fact Check
No record in official Chinese sources
A review of official Chinese state media archives shows no evidence that Xi Jinping made such a statement.
CCTV: The official CCTV platform contains no record of any speech in which he called for the United States or Israel to eliminate their nuclear weapons. CCTV maintains an archive of Xi Jinping’s official activities and speeches here. If such a statement had been made on CCTV, it would likely appear in this archive.
Chinese Foreign Ministry: China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs briefing archive contains no record of such remarks, the archive is publicly available here.
State Council Information Office: The State Council Information Office archive of Xi Jinping’s governance-related statements also contains no matching statement. The archive can be accessed here.
Moreover, if a world leader had publicly called on the United States and Israel to give up nuclear weapons as a way to avert a wider conflict, it would typically attract broad international media attention.
However, we did not find reporting from major outlets, including Reuters and the BBC, documenting any such statement. The absence of corroborating coverage further indicates that the claim is not credible.
China’s Official Nuclear Policy Contradicts the Claim
China’s established nuclear doctrine does not support the narrative presented in the viral posts.
According to official statements, China follows a strict “No First Use” (NFU) policy, meaning it pledges never to use nuclear weapons unless first attacked with nuclear weapons. This policy reflects a defensive posture and emphasizes restraint.
In April 2026, China reaffirmed this position in a report submitted to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) review process, again calling for a multilateral “No First Use” agreement among nuclear-armed states.
The NFU principle means that nuclear weapons are intended strictly for retaliation, not for use in conventional conflicts, and is designed to reduce mistrust and prevent escalation.
China has also stated that nuclear powers should fulfill their responsibilities in reducing arsenals, particularly emphasizing that the United States and Russia, which possess the majority of global nuclear weapons, should take the lead. This position reflects a gradual, multilateral disarmament approach, not unilateral demands directed at specific countries.
China’s Position on Israel and the Middle East
China has consistently supported the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East. As part of this position, it has called for all countries in the region, including Israel, to join the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and to place their nuclear facilities under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards. See more details here. However, this stance is framed within international agreements and diplomatic processes, not as a direct ultimatum demanding immediate disarmament.
What Xi Jinping Has Actually Said Recently
Recent verified speeches by Xi Jinping further contradict the viral claim.
For example, in an April 2026 address reported by state media, Xi focused on energy security and economic resilience amid global instability, including the need to expand China’s energy system and maintain long-term development stability (Source).
In addition, during recent diplomatic engagements related to the Middle East, Xi proposed a four-point peace plan that emphasized respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, adherence to international law, prioritizing political and diplomatic solutions over the use of force, and responsible behavior by all countries on security issues. None of these official statements include any demand for the United States or Israel to surrender nuclear weapons.
Misleading Video and Context Manipulation
The photo of the Chinese president shown in the social media post is taken from the video of his 2026 New Year greeting, delivered from his office on December 31, 2025. In that video, he does not mention a third world war or nuclear weapons. Instead, he focuses on China’s economic stability, building global peace, and the relationship between China and Taiwan. The full video is below.
Conclusion
The claim that Xi Jinping demanded the United States and Israel give up their nuclear weapons is false. There is no record of such a statement in official Chinese sources or international reporting. China’s established nuclear policy also contradicts the claim, emphasizing multilateral disarmament and diplomatic solutions rather than unilateral demands.
The viral narrative is based on manipulated video content and does not reflect any real statement made by the Chinese president.
Title: Fact Check: Did Xi Jinping demand the U.S. and Israel give up nuclear weapons?
Fact Check By: Pranpreeya
Result: False
