BEIJING: China on Wednesday expressed serious concerns following a report indicating that the United States has recently approved a new nuclear strategy focusing on China’s expanding nuclear arsenal. The report, published by The New York Times, highlights a significant shift in US nuclear policy, aiming to address the growing nuclear capabilities of China, while also preparing for potential coordinated challenges from China, Russia, and North Korea.
According to the report, US President Joe Biden approved a highly classified “nuclear employment guidance” in March 2024. This document, which outlines the US approach to nuclear deterrence and employment, reportedly reorients the US nuclear strategy to address China’s rapid nuclear buildup. The guidance is updated every four years and now includes provisions for potential nuclear threats from China, alongside traditional concerns about Russia and North Korea.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning criticized the US, accusing it of “peddling the China nuclear threat narrative” and seeking to gain a strategic advantage by exaggerating the threat posed by China’s nuclear expansion.
Mao stated, “China is seriously concerned about the relevant report, and the facts have fully proven that the United States has constantly stirred up the so-called China nuclear threat theory in recent years.”
The Pentagon’s latest unclassified estimates suggest that China has more than 500 operational nuclear warheads and could surpass 1,000 by 2030. This represents a significant increase from previous projections and has led US officials to adjust their nuclear strategy accordingly. In contrast, the US possesses approximately 3,700 active warheads, while Russia has an estimated 4,380 warheads, including about 1,550 on strategic delivery systems.
