China has expressed concern over information it has received about the nuclear strategy endorsed by US President Joe Biden, Defence Blog reports.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Wednesday criticising what it sees as a US attempt to portray China as a nuclear threat to justify its own strategic moves. A spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry said:
“The US is peddling the China nuclear threat narrative, finding excuses to seek strategic advantage.”
The concerns stem from a report by The New York Times, which said that US President Joe Biden approved a highly classified nuclear strategic plan in March. The plan reportedly addresses China’s growing nuclear capabilities, but also aims to prepare the US for potential coordinated nuclear challenges from China, Russia and North Korea. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said during a regular press briefing:
“China is seriously concerned about the relevant report, and the facts have fully proved that the United States has constantly stirred up the so-called China nuclear threat theory in recent years.”
The White House responded to concerns by saying on Tuesday that the secret nuclear strategic plan endorsed by President Biden is not directed against any one country or threat. But US officials have consistently stressed that China’s expanding nuclear capabilities are a serious concern.
The Pentagon’s annual report, released last October, indicated that China has more than 500 operational nuclear warheads in its arsenal and projected that the number could exceed 1,000 by 2030. The rapid expansion of China’s nuclear forces has become a major point of emphasis in US defence strategy, prompting calls for the US to adapt its nuclear posture to counter emerging threats from multiple adversaries.
Tensions over nuclear capabilities have emerged at a time of heightened strategic rivalry between the US and China, with both countries engaged in a broader struggle for influence in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond. Recent developments highlight the deepening rivalry and the potential risks associated with nuclear escalation in a multipolar world.
