US Department of Defense, "China's Nuclear Warheads Expanded to 1,000" Sparks Controversy

Japanese Media "Doubts May Arise Over Effectiveness of US Nuclear Umbrella"
Chinese State Media "Pure Speculation... Will Not Engage in Nuclear Competition with US"

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The U.S. Department of Defense has warned that China's nuclear weapons stockpile is rapidly increasing and is expected to exceed 1,000 warheads by 2030, causing significant ripples in the international community. While the U.S. and Western countries are concerned that China's rapid nuclear buildup could lead to increased pressure on Taiwan, neighboring countries such as Japan have also expressed worries about the potential weakening of the U.S. nuclear deterrence capability, known as the "nuclear umbrella," extended to its allies. Chinese state media have dismissed these claims as baseless speculation, reiterating their longstanding position that China will use nuclear weapons solely for self-defense purposes.

On the 3rd (local time), the U.S. Department of Defense strongly warned in its "Military and Security Developments Involving the People's Republic of China" report submitted to Congress that China's nuclear warhead stockpile is rapidly growing. According to the report, China's nuclear warhead count is expected to surpass 700 by 2027 and exceed 1,000 by 2030. However, the Department of Defense did not disclose the current number of warheads China possesses.

According to the Associated Press, the U.S. Department of Defense had estimated in last year's report to Congress on China's military capabilities that China possessed approximately 200 nuclear warheads and warned that this number could increase to 400 by 2030. In just one year, the projected future nuclear warhead count for China has increased by more than 2.5 times.

CNN reports that the U.S. government officially states it currently holds 3,750 nuclear warheads. If the U.S. continues its nuclear arms reduction policy without artificially increasing its warhead count, the gap between the U.S. and China's nuclear warhead stockpiles is inevitably narrowing. CNN pointed out, "China's nuclear buildup is progressing much faster than the Department of Defense's estimate from a year ago, heightening concerns about China's nuclear capabilities."

Alongside this, the Department of Defense's report also warned that "China may have already secured the three major nuclear forces capable of nuclear attacks on land, sea, and air," and that "China is developing ballistic missiles capable of launching nuclear weapons from the air, in addition to land and sea-based systems."

Regarding China's nuclear buildup, the U.S. and Western countries have expressed concerns that military pressure on Taiwan could intensify. The Associated Press and major foreign media cited U.S. officials saying, "China may consider all options ranging from joint blockades of Taiwan to large-scale amphibious invasions," and that "attacks could include air and missile strikes as well as cyberattacks."

In Japan, concerns have emerged that China's rapid nuclear buildup could weaken the U.S. nuclear deterrence commitment to its allies, known as the "nuclear umbrella." The Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei) editorial warned, "If China's nuclear buildup continues, doubts about the effectiveness of the U.S. nuclear umbrella may arise," and cautioned, "If the U.S. weakens its nuclear deterrence for allies to focus on defending the mainland, deterrence against China's military power will inevitably weaken."

In contrast, China insists that the U.S. Department of Defense's projections are mere speculation and that China will use nuclear weapons solely for defensive purposes. On the same day, the Chinese state-run Global Times commented, "No one knows the exact number of China's nuclear weapons cited by the U.S. Department of Defense; it is pure speculation," emphasizing, "China will never engage in a nuclear arms race with the U.S. and does not desire a nuclear arsenal of the same scale as the U.S."

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