Russia, China, Britain, US and France Say No One Can Win a Nuclear War

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Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. permanent / ˈpɜr mə nənt / (adj.) – not changing in the future
    Example:

    The company had changed locations before, but its permanent headquarters is now in Tokyo.


  2. affirm / əˈfɜrm / (v.) – to state clearly or publicly that something is true or to express strong support for something
    Example:

    In his speech, the CEO affirmed the company’s decision to open an overseas branch.


  3. far-reaching / ˈfɑrˈri tʃɪŋ / (adj.) – affecting or influencing many people or things
    Example:

    The president’s decision has far-reaching consequences.


  4. deter / dɪˈtɜr / (v.) – to prevent something from happening
    Example:

    The new school policy aims to deter cyberbullying among students.


  5. bilateral / baɪˈlæt ər əl / (adj.) – involving two countries or groups of people
    Example:

    The US and Japan have signed a bilateral agreement on agricultural and industrial trade.


Article

Read the text below.

China, Russia, Britain, the United States and France have agreed that a further spread of nuclear arms and a nuclear war should be avoided, according to a joint statement by the five nuclear powers published by the Kremlin on Jan. 3.


It said the five countries, the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, consider it their primary responsibility to avoid war between the nuclear states and to reduce strategic risks, while aiming to work with all countries to create an atmosphere of security.


“We affirm that a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought,” the English-language version of the statement read. “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.”


The statement from the so-called P5 group comes as bilateral relations between the U.S. and Moscow have fallen to their lowest point since the end of the Cold War, while relations between Washington and China are also at a low. (Reuters)


This article was provided by The Japan Times Alpha.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • China, Russia, Britain, the United States, and France have agreed that a further spread of nuclear arms and a nuclear war should be avoided. How do you think a nuclear war can be avoided (ex. banning nuclear weapons altogether, educating people about their effects)? Discuss.
  • The P5 group affirmed that nuclear weapons should serve defensive purposes, deter aggression, and prevent war. Do you agree that nuclear weapons can serve these purposes? Why or why not? Discuss.

Discussion B

  • Bilateral relations between the U.S. and Moscow have fallen to their lowest point since the end of the Cold War, while relations between Washington and China are also at a low. What do you think could be the effect of this on the rest of the world? How do you think these countries could repair their relations? Discuss.
  • Aside from joint statements, what else can be done to create an atmosphere of security among all countries? Do you think conflicts between nations can be totally avoided? Why or why not? Discuss.