US "China Holds 200 Nuclear Warheads"... Attempts to Deter China with Strategic Bombers

Ministry of National Defense Discloses Number of China's Nuclear Warheads for the First Time
US Uses Strategic Bombers to Pressure China

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Baek Jong-min] The U.S. Department of Defense warned on the 1st (local time) that China currently possesses around 200 nuclear warheads and that this number could double in 10 years.

The Department of Defense revealed this in the '2020 China Military Power Report' submitted to Congress on the 1st (local time).

This is the first time the U.S. Department of Defense has provided specific figures regarding China's nuclear warhead stockpile. The Department's estimate was lower than the 320 warheads projected by the Federation of American Scientists.

Chad Sbragia, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for China, stated in a briefing, "We are clearly concerned about the scale and also about China's distinct nuclear development trajectory."

He also claimed that China is approaching the completion of its three major nuclear forces and explained that China is developing air-launched ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads.

The Department of Defense's announcement on this day is interpreted as part of an effort to increase pressure on China and to push China to participate in nuclear arms limitation talks with Russia.

Since the U.S. withdrew from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) with Russia last year, it has emphasized the need for a nuclear arms limitation agreement including China, but China has rejected this, arguing that the U.S. nuclear warhead stockpile is incomparable. According to the Federation of American Scientists, Russia possesses about 4,300 warheads, and the U.S. about 3,800.

U.S. Actively Utilizes Long-Range Bombers to Pressure China

A major foreign news outlet reported that since the end of January, U.S. B-1B and B-52 strategic bombers have conducted 20 missions over the South China Sea, East China Sea, and the Sea of Japan.

Military analysts evaluated that the U.S. is sending a clear signal to China by using strategic bombers. Instead of deploying surface vessels such as aircraft carriers, the U.S. is trying to maintain the balance of power by combining strategic bombers and missiles. Major foreign media also estimated that the U.S. has concluded that air power is necessary to counter China's rapidly expanding naval forces.

Retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant General David Deptula explained, "Deploying ships can take weeks, but using bombers allows for a response within hours." He added, "The U.S. goal is to deter war," emphasizing, "No one wants to provoke a conflict with China."

China is responding to U.S. strategic bombers with missiles. The Chinese Navy recently conducted missile launch drills in the South China Sea, targeting U.S. aircraft carriers with the so-called "carrier killer" Dongfeng-26 missile. China also provoked the U.S. by launching four medium-range ballistic missiles.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.