US concerned about China’s rapid growth of nuclear arms, Blinken tells Asean nations
- Addressing a meeting of the Asean Regional Forum, the US Secretary of State also called on Beijing to cease ‘provocative’ behaviour in the South China Sea
- China says its nuclear arsenal is dwarfed by those of the US and Russia and it is ready for talks on strategic security
“The Secretary also noted deep concern with the rapid growth of the PRC’s nuclear arsenal which highlights how Beijing has sharply deviated from its decades-old nuclear strategy based on minimum deterrence,” it added, using the acronym for China’s official name, the People’s Republic of China.
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Both the Pentagon and State Department have aired concerns recently about China’s build-up of its nuclear forces following think-tank reports based on satellite imagery saying that Beijing appears to be constructing hundreds of new silos for nuclear missiles.
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A 2020 Pentagon report estimated China’s nuclear warhead stockpile in “the low 200s” and said it was projected to at least double in size as Beijing expands and modernises its forces.
Analysts say the United States has around 3,800 warheads, and according to a State Department fact sheet, 1,357 of those were deployed as of March 1.
Beijing says its arsenal is dwarfed by those of Washington and Moscow and it is ready to conduct bilateral dialogues on strategic security “on the basis of equality and mutual respect.”
Blinken has taken part in a series of regional meetings this week at which he has sought to reinforce the US message that it is serious about engaging with Asian countries to push back against Beijing.