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.
