WSJ "China Accelerates Nuclear Arsenal Expansion... Responding to US Nuclear Threat"

A surface-to-air missile marching at the 70th anniversary event of the founding of the People's Army in 2019. Photo by Yonhap News

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[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Se-eun] The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that the Chinese leadership is accelerating nuclear armament in response to the nuclear threat from the United States.

On the 9th (local time), WSJ reported that China had been pursuing nuclear force enhancement even before Russia's invasion of Ukraine, but following the intensification of U.S. pressure on China after the war, China's nuclear armament is also strengthening.

Satellite images taken in January revealed that China is preparing more than 100 "silo" facilities on the outskirts of Wumen City in Gansu Province in the west.

A silo originally refers to a warehouse for storing solid cargo such as silage, which is livestock feed, but in some cases, it can be used as an underground storage for nuclear missiles.

WSJ explained that recently, temporary covers disappeared from 45 silo facilities in Wumen City, indicating that sensitive operations involving information exposure have been completed.

Initial work to create silo zones is also underway in areas outside Wumen City.

It is known that the silos are equipped with space to house the latest long-range missile "DF-41," capable of striking the U.S. mainland directly.

However, Chinese authorities have not disclosed any special stance regarding the storage of nuclear weapons inside the silos. Experts in the U.S. estimate that China currently possesses several hundred nuclear warheads.

WSJ stated, "Although this number is lower than the approximately 4,000 warheads held by the U.S. and Russia," it also reported that "U.S. intelligence agencies project that China will have 1,000 nuclear warheads by 2030."

According to WSJ, the Chinese government in the past did not place great emphasis on nuclear armament, citing the practical difficulties of using nuclear weapons in wartime situations.

However, as the U.S. administration pushed a tough policy against China, the perspective has gradually shifted to be more favorable toward nuclear armament.

In particular, during the Donald Trump administration, the U.S. adopted a hardline stance against China early in the COVID-19 pandemic and increased support for Taiwan, which became a direct trigger.

Currently, China considers Taiwan as part of China, but the U.S. views Taiwan as a forward base to contain China, leading to sharp confrontation between the U.S. and China over Taiwan.

WSJ also forecasted, "Although there are no signs of imminent war (over Taiwan), if a U.S.-China military conflict occurs in Taiwan, both sides will consider the use of nuclear weapons."

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