China Reportedly Building Up Nuclear Arsenal to Counter U.S. Influence in Asia, Elsewhere

China is expanding its nuclear arsenal to counter U.S. power in Asia and other regions, the Washington Times reported today (see GSN, July 21).

However, the exact composition of China’s nuclear arsenal remains top secret, said Chen Yonglin, a Chinese diplomat who defected to Australia two months ago while stationed in Sydney.

“Everything about nuclear weapons is held by a very limited number of people,” he said. “Even sometime vice ministers may not know because it is strictly controlled by the general staff and central party leaders.”

China’s Nuclear Energy Co. runs both the country’s civil and military nuclear industries, he added.

Former Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping crafted Beijing’s long-term military strategy toward the United States, using the phrase “hide our capabilities; bide our time,” Chen said.

“That means don’t draw any attention of the Western world — and especially the United States, to what China is doing,” Chen said (Bill Gertz, Washington Times, July 29).

Back to top
About Newswire  |  Contact National Journal  |  Re-Use Guidelines © Copyright 2008 by National Journal Group, Inc. The material in this section is produced independently for NTI by National Journal Group, Inc. Any reproduction or retransmission, in whole or in part, is a violation of federal law and is strictly prohibited without the consent of the National Journal Group, Inc. All rights reserved.