New York: According to top intelligence sources, China, under President Xi Jinping, is undergoing a significant shift in its nuclear policy, focusing on modernizing and expanding its nuclear warheads.
China’s aim is to develop a world-class military capable of handling pressure from international borders, part of its broader expansionist policy.
Despite being a nuclear power, China has traditionally relied on land-based ballistic missiles with limited air and marine nuclear warheads.
However, in the past decade, China has significantly increased its nuclear arsenal, with the number of nuclear warheads rising from 400 in 2022 to 500 in 2023, making it a major contributor to global nuclear proliferation.
While China publicly supports a “No First Use” policy, intelligence suggests that in the event of a ground attack, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) may not hesitate to utilize nuclear warheads as part of its arsenal.
Intelligence estimates project that China’s nuclear stockpile could reach 1,000 warheads within the next five years, posing a significant threat on the global stage.
Expansion Plans:
- The DF-41 arsenal, a road-and-rail-mobile Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM), entered service around 2020 with an estimated operational range of 12,000–15,000 km, surpassing any other missile in the world.
- Recent reports indicate that Type 094 submarines are now equipped with the newer JL-3 Submarine-launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM), boasting a range of approximately 10,000 km, putting the US within striking distance.
- China has introduced two additional Type 094 nuclear ballistic missile submarines (SSBN), each capable of carrying up to 12 JL-3s, totaling an estimated 72 nuclear warheads.
- The development of the Xian H-20, a nuclear-capable subsonic strategic stealth bomber with a range of 10,000 km, is underway, potentially granting China global reach if upgraded with air refueling capabilities.
