China Rebuts US Claims: America is the Biggest Nuclear Threat
BEIJING – China has strongly refuted accusations from the United States that it posesa nuclear threat, asserting that America, with its vast and advanced nuclear arsenal, is the true architect of global nuclear risk.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning, addressed the issue at a regular press briefing on August 21, responding to a recent report in the New York Times that amplifiedthe China nuclear threat narrative. The report, published on August 20, claimed that US President Joe Biden had approved a highly classified nuclear strategy plan in March, which for the first time shifted the focus of US nuclear deterrence tocounter what it called China’s rapid nuclear buildup.
The New York Times article, citing Pentagon assessments, alleged that China’s nuclear arsenal is projected to rival that of the US and Russia in size and diversity withinthe next decade. It further claimed that the revised US nuclear strategy, known as the Nuclear Posture Review, reflects a more dynamic and volatile nuclear environment than three years ago, driven by a perceived partnership between Russia and China, as well as Iran’s provision of conventional weapons to Russia in the Ukraine conflict.
The new strategic document serves as a reminder that whoever takes office in the White House on January 20, 2025, will be facing a more dynamic and volatile nuclear environment than three years ago, the report stated.
The article highlighted that the US nuclear strategy had historically focused on the Sovietand Russian nuclear arsenals, but the new document, approved by Biden, signifies a shift in focus. The Pentagon estimates that China’s nuclear warheads will increase to 1,000 by 2030 and 1,500 by 2035, roughly equivalent to thecurrent deployment levels of the US and Russia.
However, Mao Ning countered these claims, stating that China adheres to a no first use nuclear policy and a self-defense nuclear strategy, maintaining its nuclear forces at the minimum level necessary for national security. China has no intention of engaging in an armsrace with any country, she emphasized.
On the other hand, the United States, possessing the largest and most advanced nuclear arsenal, stubbornly adheres to a nuclear deterrence policy based on first use, Mao Ning continued. It continues to invest heavily in upgrading its nuclear triad and openly tailors nuclear deterrence strategies for othercountries. The US is the biggest manufacturer of nuclear threats and strategic risks globally.
Zhuo Hua, an international relations expert at Beijing Foreign Studies University, told the Global Times that the US government’s shift in nuclear strategy towards China, along with its emphasis on countering threats from countries likeChina and Russia, has two primary intentions.
Firstly, with changes in conventional forces and battlefield environments, the US is now willing to rely on nuclear weapons to extend its hegemony, Zhuo Hua explained. Secondly, by tying China and Russia together, the US is creating a ‘peer competitor’ nuclear scenarioto justify its nuclear force upgrade and integrate it into its strategic competition with China, thus seeking stable and sustainable budget and political support for its nuclear expansion and proliferation.
The White House, in response to the New York Times report, stated that while the specific wording of the Nuclear Posture Review is confidential,its existence is not a secret. They also clarified that the document, released earlier this year, is not a response to any specific entity, country, or threat.
Reuters, citing the Arms Control Association, reported that the US nuclear strategy and posture remain consistent with the 2022 Nuclear Posture Review,with no shift in focus from Russia to China. Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association, acknowledged that while US intelligence estimates suggest China may expand its nuclear arsenal, Russia currently possesses around 4,000 nuclear warheads, making it still the primary driver of US nuclear strategy.
Kimballfurther stated that the US may need to consider adjusting the size and composition of its nuclear forces at some point in the future. My understanding is that such a change might not be considered until 2030 or later, he said.
Despite these attempts to downplay the shift in focus, the US andits Western allies have been actively promoting the narrative of a China nuclear threat and using it as a justification for expanding their nuclear arsenals.
In June, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) released its annual report on global nuclear forces, revealing a continued increase in the total number of nuclear warheads available worldwide. The report indicated that the US possesses 1,770 deployed nuclear warheads, 1,938 in storage, and 1,336 retired but not dismantled warheads. In contrast, the UK, France, and China have 225, 290, and 500 nuclear warheads respectively, with only 24 of China’s warheads being deployed.
Despite these figures, Western voices continue to focus their attention on China, highlighting the hypocrisy and double standards in their approach to nuclear security.
【来源】https://news.ifeng.com/c/8cFNHop7yx1
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