WASHINGTON: China expanded its nuclear style much faster than US officials predicted only a year ago, highlighting the buildup of extensive military muscle and accelerating designed to enable Beijing to match or beyond global power in the mid-century, according to the Pentagon report on Wednesday.
The number of Chinese nuclear warheads can rise to 700 in six years, the report said, and it could be top 1,000 in 2030.
The report did not say how many weapons owned by China today, but a year ago the Pentagon said the number was in “Low 200S “and it is likely to multiply at the end of this decade.
US, with comparisons, has 3,750 nuclear weapons and has no plans to increase.
Recently 2003, total US was around 10,000.
The Biden government is conducting a comprehensive review of its nuclear policy and has not said how it might be influenced by Chinese worries.
This report does not suggest open conflict with China but matches US narratives that arise on the intention of people’s liberation soldiers about challenging US in all domains of war – air, land, sea, space and cyberspace.
Against the background, US defense officials said they were increasingly alert to Chinese intentions in connection with Taiwan’s status.
“Ability and concepts that evolve PLA continue to strengthen the ability (China) to ‘fight and win the war’ against ‘strong enemies'” – the possibility of euphemism for us, he said.
The Chinese may have determined what is known as a nuclear triad – a combination of land, sea, and air missiles owned by the US and Russia for decades, the report said.
To force the existing land-based nuclear and sea, China added a ballistic missile launched by air.
Epor is based on information collected until 2020 December and does not reflect or even mention Mark Milley’s general expression worried about last month about Chinese hypersonic weapons tests last summer which he said came as a troublesome surprise.
Wednesday’s report only refers to the widely known fact that China has deployed a medium-distance ballistic missile DF-17, equipped with a hypersonic glide vehicle designed to avoid US missile defense.
The report said China pursued a foreign base network that “can interfere” US military operations and can support Chinese military operations against us.
President Xi Jinping said China planned to become a global military force in 2049.
The basis of predictions was not spelled in the report, which also confirmed that China had started building at least three new missile fields that “contain hundreds” cumulatively.
An underground silo where ICBMS can be launched.
AP The number of Chinese nuclear warheads can rise to 700 in six years, a Pentagon report said, and can reach 1,000 to 2030.
A year ago, the Pentagon said the number was in the ‘low 200s’.
China may have determined what is known as a nuclear triad – commitment of land, sea and air missiles, the report was added.