US: China Has 200 Nuclear Warheads... Expected to Double Within 10 Years (Summary)

US Department of Defense Releases '2020 China Military Power Report'...Acknowledges Some Chinese Military Capabilities Surpass US
"China Focuses on Preventing North Korea Collapse and Military Conflict on the Korean Peninsula"

China's 'Aircraft Carrier Killer' Dongfeng-26 Missile
[Image Source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] The U.S. Department of Defense has projected that China possesses just over 200 nuclear warheads and that this number could at least double over the next decade. Regarding North Korea-China relations, it assessed that the focus is on maintaining stability to prevent the collapse of North Korea and military conflict on the Korean Peninsula.

According to CNN on the 1st (local time), the Department of Defense made this evaluation in its '2020 China Military Power Report' submitted to Congress that day. This is the first time the Department of Defense has disclosed a specific figure for China's nuclear warhead stockpile.

The report stated, "With the expansion and modernization of China's nuclear forces over the next decade, the number of nuclear warheads, currently in the low 200s, is expected to at least double in scale." It observed that China currently has about 100 ground-based intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) warheads capable of threatening the U.S., which is expected to increase to approximately 200 within five years.

The report also pointed out, "China is pursuing a triad of nuclear forces through the development of air-launched ballistic missiles and enhancement of ground- and sea-based nuclear capabilities."

Chad Sbragia, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for China, explained that China, which has so far possessed only two legs of the triad, is approaching completion of its three-part nuclear force. The U.S. disclosure of China's nuclear warhead count is interpreted as an effort to pressure China to participate in nuclear force limitation talks while highlighting the necessity of modernizing U.S. nuclear forces.

The report further noted that China has already matched or even surpassed the U.S. in several areas, citing naval power, ground-based conventional ballistic and cruise missiles, and integrated air defense systems as examples.

The Department of Defense expressed concern that China, with 350 naval vessels and submarines, has surpassed the U.S., which has 293, to possess the largest navy in the world. It also mentioned that China has more than 1,250 medium-range ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges between 500 and 5,500 km. It is estimated that China has secured around 200 Dongfeng-26 missiles, known as "carrier killers."

The report also evaluated China's role regarding the situation on the Korean Peninsula. The Department of Defense explained, "China's objectives concerning the Korean Peninsula are stability, denuclearization, and the absence of U.S. forces near the Chinese border," adding, "China's focus on maintaining stability on the Korean Peninsula is to prevent the collapse of North Korea and military conflict on the Peninsula." It further stated, "To achieve these goals, China continues to advocate a dual-track approach that embraces both dialogue and pressure and encourages the resumption of North Korea-U.S. talks."

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