China’s state media and foreign ministry responded strongly to reports that President Joe Biden shifted the U.S. nuclear strategic plan to focus on China’s growing nuclear arsenal. Beijing criticized Washington for using China as an excuse to maintain a massive nuclear arsenal and called for mutual trust through dialogue. China’s foreign ministry denied engaging in an arms race and accused the U.S. of pushing a narrative of the China nuclear threat to seek strategic advantage.
The revised U.S. strategy, known as “Nuclear Employment Guidance,” was approved by Biden amid concerns that China’s stockpiles would rival those of the United States and Russia in the next decade. The plan aimed to prepare for potential nuclear challenges from China, Russia, and North Korea. However, the White House clarified that the plan was not in response to a specific country or threat.
The U.S. and China have been exchanging criticisms over their nuclear ambitions, with the Pentagon reporting China’s nuclear inventory is expected to surpass 1,000 warheads by 2030. Despite this, informal nuclear arms talks between the U.S. and China resumed in March, with Chinese representatives assuring they would not resort to atomic threats over Taiwan.
Overall, tensions between the two countries regarding nuclear capabilities persist, with China denying an arms race and urging mutual trust through dialogue, while the U.S. maintains its strategic focus amid concerns about China’s nuclear expansion.
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