China urged to expand nuclear arsenal

Bomber, missile vital to safeguard security against US: experts

Facing rising strategic threats from the US, China needs to increase its number of nuclear warheads and complete a technologically advanced nuclear triad by developing the H-20 strategic stealth bomber and JL-3 submarine-launched ballistic missiles to deter potential impulsive military action by US warmongers, experts said.

This year, the US has been applying amplified military pressure on China, sending all manner of warships and warplanes at an increasing frequency to areas including the South China Sea, East China Sea and Taiwan Straits.

The Pentagon is also planning to deploy groundlaunched Tomahawk cruise missile installations to the first island chain to contain China’s military development, which would not have been possible had the US not quit the INF Treaty, Reuters reported.

Chinese military experts urged the country to expand its nuclear arsenal to deter the US from its ambition to contain China through military means and dispel thoughts of irrational military action by US warmongers.

China needs to expand the number of its nuclear warheads to 1,000 in a relatively short time and have at least 100 DF-41 strategic missiles to curb US strategic ambitions and impulses toward China, said Global Times Editor-inChief Hu Xijin on Friday.

Song Zhongping, a Chinese military expert and TV commentator, told the Global Times that since the US no longer sees nuclear weapons as a mere deterrence – now viewing them as deployable on the battlefield – China will have to expand its nuclear arsenal in response to this huge threat.

When asked to comment on whether China will build more nuclear warheads and DF-41 missiles and if China will join an arms treaty with the US, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said at Friday’s media briefing that major countries should have prioritized responsibility to reduce strategic nuclear weapons. China always operates under a “no first use” policy when it comes to nuclear weapons, and China’s related policy is moderate and responsible, Hua said.

China revealed its most advanced nuclear weapon at the National Day military parade held in Beijing on October 1, 2019. The road-launched DF-41 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) is capable of striking the US homeland with multiple nuclear warheads.

China is reportedly testing the JL-3 nuclear-armed submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) and developing the Type 096 nuclear-powered strategic submarine to launch the missile. Also in development is the H-20 strategic stealth bomber, comparable to the US’ B-2.

Beijing-based military expert Wei Dongxu said that China’s next-generation SLBM will have a longer range and carry more nuclear warheads, providing more powerful deterrent and counterattack capabilities. The rumored H-20 bomber can carry both nuclear and conventional weapons, fly across continents and conduct strategic deterrent missions, making it a trump card for the Chinese Air Force.

Military experts said that it is possible that China and the US might engage in a regional conflict.

For instance, this may become a reality if the US continues to challenge China’s bottom line on the Taiwan question, Song said. The source of China-US confrontation would come from the US’ continued provocation using China’s core interests, he said.