Chinese nuclear arsenal growing faster than expected, Washington says

DF-41 ballistic missiles parading in Beijing's Tiananmen Square, on the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, October 1, 2019. AP - Mark Schiefelbein

Text by: RFI Follow

3 min

China denounced this Thursday, November 4 a " 

" of the United States after the publication of a Pentagon report including a faster acceleration than expected of the Chinese nuclear program.

On October 18, Washington expressed its concerns after the test of a Chinese hypersonic missile, denied by Beijing.

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In a report published Wednesday, November 3, the US Department of Defense estimates that Beijing is developing its nuclear arsenal much faster and can already launch ballistic missiles armed with nuclear warheads from land, sea and air. For the Pentagon, China is modernizing its army to " 

 " in the Indo-Pacific region and facilitate the reintegration of Taiwan, which it considers to be one of its provinces.

In response, a spokesman for Chinese diplomacy, Wang Wenbin, accused the Americans of seeking to " 

 " the thesis of a Chinese threat.

" 

 ", indicated to the press the spokesman, criticizing a " 

 " of Washington.

In the previous edition of this report intended for Congress and published on September 1, 2020, the Pentagon estimated the Chinese arsenal at " 

 " nuclear warheads, but considered that this number would double over the next ten years.

" 

Nuclear triad

 "

However, with 700 nuclear warheads from 2027 and 1,000 by 2030, the new projections of the American military show a very strong acceleration of Beijing's nuclear activities.

" 

 '

', that is, the ability to launch nuclear ballistic missiles from sea, land and air, according to the document.

To arrive at these figures, the authors of the report relied in particular on statements by Chinese officials in official media and on satellite images showing the construction of a significant number of nuclear silos, a senior official told the press. Pentagon by presenting this document, only part of which is made public, the rest being classified as a defense secret.

" 

 ", admitted this official having requested anonymity, adding that this acceleration " 

 ".

Even with 1,000 nuclear warheads, the Chinese arsenal would be far from equal to that of the United States and Russia.

The latter together possess more than 90% of the world's nuclear weapons: 5,550 for Washington and 6,255 for Moscow, according to estimates by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sipri).

In October 2020, the Chinese Communist Party set itself the goal of modernizing the theories, organization, personnel, armaments and equipment of its army by 2027, the report recalls.

► 

Threat to Taiwan

" 

 " underlines the Pentagon document.

Asked Wednesday during a conference on the short-term risk of an attack on Taiwan by China, the US Chief of Staff, General Mark Milley, said it was " 

 " in the next 24 months.

But the United States has " 

 " to defend the island located less than 200 km from the Chinese coast, he said.

“ 

 ”.

The passes of arms have multiplied in recent weeks between China and the United States on the fate of the territory, governed by a democratic government, but considered as a Chinese province by Beijing which says it is determined to operate a " 

", by force if necessary.

US President Joe Biden recently asserted that the United States has

to militarily defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese attack.

► 

(

AFP)

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