China criticises US for nuclear adversary claims

China has criticised a US government report that portrays Beijing as a potential nuclear adversary and called on Washington to honour its commitments to reduce its own arsenal.

The Defence Ministry on Sunday said China's military activities are defensive and its nuclear forces are the "minimum level" required for its security.

A ministry statement expressed hope the United States will "abandon a Cold War mentality" and "shoulder its special and prior responsibility for its own nuclear disarmament."

A sweeping US nuclear policy review issued on Friday says Washington wants to prevent Beijing from mistakenly concluding that any use of nuclear weapons, however limited, is acceptable.