Beijing ‘should build more nukes to prepare for Trump’

BEIJING: China should “significantly” increase military spending and build more nuclear weapons as a response to US President-elect Donald Trump, an editorial in the nationalistic Global Times newspaper said yesterday.

China should “build more strategic nuclear arms and accelerate the deployment of the DF-41 intercontinental ballistic missile” to protect its interests, should Mr Trump attempt to corner the country in an “unacceptable way”, it said.

“China’s military spending in 2017 should be augmented significantly,” it added in the print article run in both English and Chinese.

The paper is not part of the official state media, but has close ties to the ruling Communist Party.

Chinese officials are sometimes thought to use it as a rhetorical hammer, but have also admonished it for its often bombastic language.

The president-elect frequently savaged China on the campaign trail, even calling it the US’ “enemy” and pledging to stand up to a country he says views the US as a pushover. But he has also indicated he is not interested in projecting US power away from home, saying the US is sick of paying to defend allies such as Japan and South Korea — even suggesting they should develop their own nuclear weapons.

The editorial follows a Twitter tirade by Mr Trump earlier in the week blasting China’s trade and foreign policies, as well as a protocol-shattering decision to accept a congratulatory phone call from Taiwanese leader Tsai Ing-wen.

Beijing regards Taiwan as a rogue province awaiting unification.

In the editorial, the Global Times said: “We need to get better prepared militarily regarding the Taiwan question to ensure that those who advocate Taiwan’s independence will be punished, and take precautions in case of US provocations in the South China Sea.”