CHINA has issued a warning of a World War 3following Moscow's plans to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus.

China's representative in the UN, Geng Shuang, called for all world's powers to step back from the brink.

He stated that Beijing opposes armed attacks against nuclear power plants and the threat or use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine.

Speaking at a Security Council meeting on international peace, Shuang made clear China's opposition to Kremlin's plan to send nuclear weapons to Minsk.

And he called on nations to maintain "global strategic stability" – raising the spectre of an international conflict and possible World War 3.

Shuang said he was addressing his concerns at "all" nuclear weapons states – and called the devices "the sword of Damocles hanging over our heads".

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"China calls on all nuclear weapon states to abide by the vision of the statement, effectively reduce the risk of a nuclear war, and avoid any armed conflict between nuclear weapons states," said the ambassador.

He went on: "We call for the abolition of the nuclear-sharing arrangements and advocate no deployment of nuclear weapons abroad by all nuclear weapons states, and the withdrawal of nuclear weapons deployed abroad.

Shuang described nuclear weapons as "the sword of Damocles" – referencing an ancient parable warning of imminent disaster.

He stressed that "nuclear proliferation must be prevented and nuclear crisis avoided."

Geng also said "a nuclear war cannot be won and must not be fought" before adding that China’s position on nuclear weapons has been "clear and consistent."

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"China has firmly committed to a defensive nuclear strategy and honoured the pledge to no first use of nuclear weapons at any time and under any circumstances.

"And China has also clearly committed unconditionally not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear weapon states or nuclear-weapon-free zones," Geng said.

Without mentioning Russia directly, Geng said all parties must "stay rational, avoid aggravating tensions, and intensifying frictions, or fanning the flames."

China claims it has maintained a neutral stance in the war but has also pointed out its "no-limits friendship with Russia."

Last month it released a point peace plan to end the war. calling for a cease-fire and talks between Ukraine and Russia.

Ukraine's UN Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya welcomed Beijings stand, telling the council: "To the credit of the Chinese side, the Chinese side reminded Moscow in a very sensible manner that nuclear war cannot be won and fought, and that nuclear proliferation must be prevented.

He added that it took only four days for Putin to violate a pledge he made to China's President Xi Jinping in a joint statement at their recent meeting in Moscow.

It declared that all nuclear states should refrain from deploying nuclear weapons outside their countries and withdraw those deployed abroad.

Last week Putin announced the plan to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, which Ukraine branded a "desperate Kremlin attempt to avoid military defeat and threaten the world with nuclear apocalypse."

Belarus UN Ambassador Valentin Rybakov said the plan was a "reaction to the challenges and risks to national security" his country faces.

It comes a day after Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said that Vladimir Putin might also deploy strategic nuclear weapons in Belarus if he feels threatened.

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In a ranting speech, the dictator said that the nuclear arms on its territory would help protect Belarus, which he said was under threat from the West.

He said: "It is impossible to defeat a nuclear power. If the Russian leadership understands that the situation threatens to cause Russia's disintegration, it will use the most terrible weapon. This cannot be allowed."

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