China planning big increase in nuclear arsenal: Pentagon
- 4 years ago
미 국방부, 중 핵탄두 보유량 첫공개 "200기 초반..10년후 갑절"
The United States says China is aiming to double the size of its nuclear arsenal in the coming years.
This is the first time the Pentagon has reported a detailed estimate of Beijing's atomic firepower.
Kim Dami reports.
The U.S. government is warning that China likely plans to double its stockpile of nuclear warheads in the next decade.
The analysis of Beijing's nuclear arsenal is the first of its kind,... and is seen as an attempt by the U.S. to get China to engage in discussions on nuclear arms control.
As part of its annual 'China Military Power' report released Tuesday, the Pentagon stated the Chinese military has already equaled or surpassed the U.S. in a series of key areas.
That includes warheads designed to be carried atop ballistic missiles that can reach the U.S. mainland.
The Pentagon further noted that China's current stockpile of nuclear warheads is estimated to be in the low 200s, but is projected to at least double as China expands and modernizes its nuclear forces.
In its current arsenal, China has an estimated 100 warheads on land-based ICBMs capable of threatening the U.S.
But that's expected to grow to roughly 200 over the next five years.
The report also says China's focus on maintaining stability on the Korean Peninsula also involves preventing North Korea's collapse and ensuring a military conflict doesn't break out on the Peninsula.
In fact, it says Beijing continues to advocate for a dual-track approach towards North Korea that embraces both dialogue and pressure and encourages the resumption of Washington-Pyeongyang talks.
In addition, the U.S. assesses that China-North Korea ties appear to have warmed since last year...following tensions after China backed the implementation of more UN Security Council resolutions on the regime in 2017.
The Pentagon accused China of regularly failing to act against illicit ship-to-ship transfers in China's territorial waters and China-based North Korean banking and weapons trade representatives.
The report further pointed out that Beijing continues to import coal from the North, but at lower volumes than before.
Kim Dami, Arirang News.
The United States says China is aiming to double the size of its nuclear arsenal in the coming years.
This is the first time the Pentagon has reported a detailed estimate of Beijing's atomic firepower.
Kim Dami reports.
The U.S. government is warning that China likely plans to double its stockpile of nuclear warheads in the next decade.
The analysis of Beijing's nuclear arsenal is the first of its kind,... and is seen as an attempt by the U.S. to get China to engage in discussions on nuclear arms control.
As part of its annual 'China Military Power' report released Tuesday, the Pentagon stated the Chinese military has already equaled or surpassed the U.S. in a series of key areas.
That includes warheads designed to be carried atop ballistic missiles that can reach the U.S. mainland.
The Pentagon further noted that China's current stockpile of nuclear warheads is estimated to be in the low 200s, but is projected to at least double as China expands and modernizes its nuclear forces.
In its current arsenal, China has an estimated 100 warheads on land-based ICBMs capable of threatening the U.S.
But that's expected to grow to roughly 200 over the next five years.
The report also says China's focus on maintaining stability on the Korean Peninsula also involves preventing North Korea's collapse and ensuring a military conflict doesn't break out on the Peninsula.
In fact, it says Beijing continues to advocate for a dual-track approach towards North Korea that embraces both dialogue and pressure and encourages the resumption of Washington-Pyeongyang talks.
In addition, the U.S. assesses that China-North Korea ties appear to have warmed since last year...following tensions after China backed the implementation of more UN Security Council resolutions on the regime in 2017.
The Pentagon accused China of regularly failing to act against illicit ship-to-ship transfers in China's territorial waters and China-based North Korean banking and weapons trade representatives.
The report further pointed out that Beijing continues to import coal from the North, but at lower volumes than before.
Kim Dami, Arirang News.