Pak Sahafat – The American Wall Street Journal claims that China has rapidly expanded its nuclear arsenal due to fears of a threat from the United States.
According to the Pak Sahafat News agency from Wall Street Journal on Monday morning, long before the start of the war in China, the Chinese leadership made a strategic decision to strengthen its nuclear deterrent. However, recent events in Europe, as well as growing tensions between Beijing and Washington over Taiwan, have accelerated the plan.
The US publication cites informed officials and experts, as well as satellite imagery, and says images of China’s 100 suspected missile silos show increased activity in the area.
The Wall Street Journal also claims that the silos contain China’s DF-41 long-range missiles, which entered service in 2020.
The publication adds that previously the Chinese government did not prioritize expanding its nuclear capabilities because such weapons are of little value in most local and conventional warfare. It forced Beijing to reconsider the importance of its nuclear weapons.
The Wall Street Journal also says Beijing has no plans to expand its nuclear capabilities beyond guaranteeing its security interests, adding that China, as always, is committed to not using nuclear weapons as the first country.
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China, despite being the third country with the highest nuclear power, has about 5,000 fewer warheads than Russia and the United States, and owes all this weapons capacity to the Cold War.
China is committed not to resort to nuclear weapons unless another country invades its territory first. Something that Russia and the United States are not committed to.
It should be noted that China’s recent investment could increase the number of its nuclear warheads to 1,000.
The Pentagon has previously said in a report that China is expanding its nuclear arsenal much faster than expected.
The report said that by 2027, China will have 700 portable warheads, and by 2030 this number may exceed one thousand.
There are currently 12,705 known nuclear warheads in the world, distributed among nine countries.