U.S. nuclear strategy sparks concerns in China

China has voiced serious concerns following a report that the United States has approved a nuclear strategic plan focusing on China’s rapidly expanding nuclear arsenal.

The Chinese foreign ministry issued a statement on Wednesday, criticizing what it sees as an attempt by the U.S. to frame China as a nuclear threat to justify its own strategic moves.

“The U.S. is peddling the China nuclear threat narrative, finding excuses to seek strategic advantage,” said a spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry.

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The concern stems from a report by The New York Times, which revealed that U.S. President Joe Biden approved a highly classified nuclear strategic plan in March. The plan reportedly centers on China’s growing nuclear capabilities but also aims to prepare the U.S. for potential coordinated nuclear challenges from China, Russia, and North Korea.

“China is seriously concerned about the relevant report, and the facts have fully proved that the United States has constantly stirred up the so-called China nuclear threat theory in recent years,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said during a regular press briefing.

The White House responded to the concerns by stating on Tuesday that the classified nuclear strategic plan approved by President Biden is not aimed at any single country or threat. However, U.S. officials have consistently highlighted China’s expanding nuclear capabilities as a significant concern.

An annual Pentagon report released last October indicated that China had more than 500 operational nuclear warheads in its arsenal and projected that this number could exceed 1,000 by 2030. The rapid expansion of China’s nuclear forces has been a focal point in U.S. defense strategy, prompting calls for the U.S. to adapt its nuclear posture to address emerging threats from multiple adversaries.

The tensions over nuclear capabilities come at a time of heightened strategic competition between the U.S. and China, with both nations engaging in a broader struggle for influence in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond. The latest developments underscore the deepening rivalry and the potential risks associated with nuclear escalation in a multipolar world.

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Executive Editor

About author:

Colton Jones
Colton Jones
Colton Jones is the deputy editor of Defence Blog. He is a US-based journalist, writer and publisher who specializes in the defense industry in North America and Europe. He has written about emerging technology in military magazines and elsewhere. He is a former Air Force airmen and served at the Ramstein Air Base in Germany.

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