Wong Yu Liang | Moment | Getty Images
After The New York Times reported that U.S. President Joe Biden had shifted U.S. nuclear strategic planning in March to focus on Beijing’s rapid expansion of its nuclear arsenal, Chinese state media and the Foreign Ministry were quick to criticize Washington.
An outspoken editor at the Global Times, a Beijing government mouthpiece, said on Thursday that China provided the United States “the best excuse” to justify “maintaining such a large nuclear arsenal in the post-Cold War world.”
“Instead of smearing or exaggerating China, the United States should introspect and consider how to rebuild mutual trust with China through dialogue and sincerity,” the Global Times editors added.
The statement caused a stir. Chinese Ministry of Foreign AffairsHe argued that the United States is “promoting the Chinese nuclear threat narrative while finding pretexts to seek strategic advantage.”
“We have no intention of engaging in any form of arms race with other countries,” said Mao Ning, a spokesman for China’s foreign ministry.
Beijing’s statement: The New York Times The paper said President Biden approved the plan, called “Nuclear Employment Guidelines,” due to growing concerns at the Pentagon that China’s nuclear arsenal will “match the size and diversity of those of the United States and Russia over the next decade.”
The revised US strategy aims to prepare for “a possible coordinated nuclear attack from China, Russia or North Korea”, The New York Times reported, adding that its approval has not been announced but an unclassified notice is expected to be sent to the US Congress before Biden leaves office.
In response, The White House said the nuclear strategy plan was not aimed at any particular country. Or threats.
The two world’s largest economies have repeatedly traded accusations over their nuclear ambitions. Department of Defense report China’s nuclear arsenal is expected to grow to more than 1,000 by 2030, and as of May 2023, China had more than 500 operational nuclear warheads, higher than previous projections, this year’s report said.
In March, U.S. and China resume informal nuclear arms talksThe Chinese delegation assured Taiwan that it would not resort to nuclear threats.
