China is accelerating the expansion of its nuclear arsenal for fear of a conflict with the United States. In fact, Beijing would have revised its assessment of the threat posed by the US.
The news is reported by the Wall Street Journal: American caution in involvement in the war in Ukraine has convinced the Chinese government to further accelerate the development of nuclear weapons as a deterrent.
In the event of a conflict in Taiwan, the Chinese leaders reasoned, the United States would avoid direct involvement if it were faced with a power capable of equalizing it in terms of nuclear arsenal. Which is the same reason why Washington does not intervene directly in Ukraine against Russia, which is the largest nuclear power on the planet.
China has just over 300 nuclear bombs, a number slightly higher than that of France and decidedly fewer than Russia which has about 6,000 and the US which has over 5,000. Furthermore, the Chinese nuclear arsenal is now considered outdated, unsuitable to act as a deterrent.
(Unioneonline / L)
