US Strategic Command general Comments on increasing nuclear arsenal of China
A formation of JL-2 missiles takes part in a grand military parade celebrating the 70th founding anniversary of the People’s Republic of China in Beijing, capital of China,
US Air Force Lieutenant General Thomas Bussiere, who is deputy commander of the US Strategic Command which oversees the nuclear arsenal, said on Friday that China will soon surpass Russia as the top nuclear threat of the US, a Reuter report said.
Bussiere claimed China is in the midst of a rapid nuclear weapons build-up that can no longer be aligned with the country’s public clarification that China wants to maintain a minimum nuclear level of deterrence.
There’s going to be a point, a crossover point, where the number of threats presented by China will exceed the number of threats that currently Russia presents, said General Bussiere.
He said the judgment would not be based solely on the number of China’s stockpiled nuclear warheads, but also on how they are “operationally fielded.” He believed the cross-over point will appear in the next few years.
Bussiere emphasized that, unlike with Russia, the US does not have any treaties or dialogue mechanisms with China on the issue to alleviate any misperceptions or confusion.
His reasoning are clear and have come from the recent satellite imagery showing hectic silo constructions by the PLA and also various statements from Chinese leadership. The number of nuclear warheads in China are growing Soon Russia will not have the same order of magnitude. It is known that US owns more nuclear warheads than Russia. So initially China’s nuclear capability will surpass that of Russia in the foreseeable future and thereafter even the USA.
Bussiere said his judgment is not based solely on the number of China’s stockpiled nuclear warheads, but that it also depends on how they are “operationally fielded.”
It’s well-known that India is the sole nuclear power that has declared a policy of “no-first-use” of nuclear weapons at any time, and, under any circumstances( though even the Chinese claim to have this ). India has far fewer nuclear warheads than US, Russia or the China, and has still made the aforementioned self-restrained commitment.
However if Bussiere’s analysis are correct then India will have no other option but to increase her nuclear stockpile to ensure deterrence through assured overwhelming second strike capability.
Presently the US, Russia or India do not have any treaties or dialogue mechanisms with China on the issue to “alleviate any misperceptions or confusion over the nuclear warheads”. Now all the nuclear powers must have a mechanism that would restrain further nuclear arsenal development.
All countries must endeavour to prevent further nuclear build up.
India must have a firm attitude when it comes to nuclear arsenal development, because it is closely tied to core national security. We should not be dissuaded and impacted by any Chinese tricks or by any other country.
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