China has expressed concern and accused the United States of creating the world’s largest nuclear threat after reports surfaced that President Joe Biden approved a significant shift in U.S. nuclear strategy to focus on countering Beijing’s growing nuclear arsenal. The changes, first reported by The New York Times, involve updates to the highly classified “Nuclear Employment Guidance,” which is revised approximately every four years. This is the first time the guidance has specifically focused on China.
Mao Ning, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, voiced Beijing’s strong opposition during a press conference on Wednesday. She stated that China maintains its nuclear arsenal at the minimum level necessary for national security and accused the U.S. of using the “China nuclear threat” narrative as an excuse to expand its own nuclear capabilities and seek strategic dominance. Mao further criticized the U.S. for adhering to a nuclear deterrence policy that includes the possibility of a first strike, contrasting it with China’s policy of no first use and self-defense.
The new U.S. strategy reportedly seeks to address the rapid expansion of China’s nuclear forces, which have been a growing concern for Washington. According to estimates from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), China’s nuclear arsenal is currently the third largest in the world, with around 500 warheads, a number that the U.S. military predicts could exceed 1,000 by 2030.
In response to these developments, Chinese state media and officials have accused the U.S. of being the primary source of global nuclear threats, highlighting the continued modernization and expansion of America’s nuclear triad. This triad includes land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles, submarine-launched ballistic missiles, and strategic bombers, all of which are undergoing significant upgrades.
The Biden administration has acknowledged the growing challenge posed by China’s nuclear expansion, with officials emphasizing the need for a more competitive approach to nuclear deterrence. Pranay Vaddi, a senior official at the White House’s National Security Council, noted in a recent speech that the U.S. has adjusted its strategy to reflect a more complex and dangerous global landscape while continuing to prioritize the prevention of nuclear weapons use.
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