China Updating Nuclear Arsenal, Study Finds

China is diversifying its nuclear weapons arsenal to include mobile ICBMs, according to a report released Monday (see GSN, Jan. 19).

The aging Dongfeng 5 strategic missile is the linchpin of China’s nuclear arsenal, the Montreal-based Center for Research on Globalization said.  These nuclear-capable missiles have flight ranges of 7,800 miles but are liquid-fueled, greatly increasing their launch preparation time, United Press International reported. 

To gain strategic flexibility, the report said, China is developing mobile ICBMs that can be placed on mobile launchers rather than being limited to the Dongfeng 5’s fixed silo deployment.

The report also fixed China’s total number of deployed nuclear weapons at a lower level than other previous estimates.

“At this time, reports have placed the number of deployable nuclear weapons China possesses at 400.  Of these, around 20 are deployed in the intercontinental ballistic missile configuration,” the report stated.

Close to 220 of China’s nuclear weapons are deployed on platforms such as short-to-medium range missiles, aircraft and submarines, the report said. 

“All of these weapons are of tactical capability.  The remaining weapons are held in tactical reserve for short-range missiles, low-yield attacks and demolition purposes,” the report noted.

China in 2005 first deployed a new intermediate-range ballistic missile, the Dongfeng 31, the report said.  It estimated that an improved Chinese ICBM under development, the Dongfeng 41, could be deployed as soon as 2010 (Martin Sieff, United Press International, July 11).

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