Niu: Russia and the US hold the most nuclear weapons in the world. Their nuclear arsenals can destroy the world a hundred times over. They have only disarmed a small part of their nuclear arsenal, which in no way affects their standing as nuclear superpowers. It won't help global nuclear security too much.

The agreement is just a strategic show rather than a real attempt to address the nuclear issue.

The Western countries are trying to push China into the process of nuclear disarmament through this progress. But China doesn't have many nuclear weapons.

Some Western countries simply don't want to see China's development, so they play up China's nuclear capabilities in order to emphasize the "China threat" theory and block China's military development.

Li: The advocacy of nuclear disarmament won't affect China too much. Though China's nuclear arsenal is small, it's good enough for national security purposes. It will be fine if nuclear disarmament really happens, because China's military goals are limited.

Li Bin: China doesn't put nuclear warheads on the missiles in peacetime. They cannot be used as weapons even if they are stolen.

For Russia and the US, what they are going to disarm are operationally deployed weapons, which are ready to fire at any time. From this perspective, the number of nuclear weapons in China is zero. I am glad to see these two countries working toward China's standard.

On the security of nuclear materials, we can say China is among the best in the world. China's experience can help others in dealing with global nuclear security.

GT: Do nuclear weapons still play an important role in nuclear security?

Li Bin: Nuclear weapons have little effect on national security. Mostly, they are political or psychological weapons. The US doesn't need nuclear weapons to protect their security. Keeping a huge nuclear arsenal is just retaining a political symbol of hegemony.

Li: Nuclear weapons have no use except deterrence.

As for the deterrent effect of nuclear weapons, it is canceled out if both countries have them. The US has a much larger nuclear arsenal but will they use these weapons against China? That is impossible. The nuclear weapons owned by China counteract the advantage of the US. This deterrence will not be affected by the size of nuclear arsenals.

GT: Is it the reason that Obama advocates a nuclear weapon-free world?

Li: This advocating shows Obama's in-depth understanding of international affairs. The moves toward nuclear disarmament is the only positive military action this administration has taken. China supports this advocacy because it is consistent with China's own policies.

Niu: The US has reached new military heights, so they can give up their former advantage in nuclear weapons. The key point here is that their hegemony cannot be diminished.

Beside their nuclear advantage, the US ranks first in the world in cyber-attack capabilities. They established a command center to run these last year.

Military attacks using cyber technology can have an even bigger effect than nuclear weapons. Nuclear weapons will destroy only a particular area, but military cyber attacks can aim at overall political, economic, and technological objects. They can cover all aspects of a country. That is why Obama can advocate a nuclear-free world.