There’s no indication the United States and China are headed toward armed conflict, let alone a nuclear one. A stronger Chinese nuclear force could factor into US calculations for a military response to aggressive Chinese actions, such as in Taiwan or the South China Sea. “The PRC’s nuclear weapons policy prioritizes the maintenance of a nuclear force able to survive a first strike and respond with sufficient strength to inflict unacceptable damage on an enemy,” the Pentagon report said. China does not publicly discuss the size or preparedness of its nuclear force beyond saying it would be used only in response to an attack. “They’re trying to build up the survivability of their force,” by developing silo basing for their advanced missiles, Kristensen said in an interview.

Source: Egypt Independent March 01, 2021 05:15 UTC