Originally posted by Officer of Engineers
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China can launch nuclear counterattacks within minutes, ex-PLA officer says | Japan Times | Aug 03 2020
BEIJING – China can detect nuclear missiles launched from an enemy and counterattack using nuclear weapons within minutes before they land in the country, according to a paper written by a Chinese former military officer.
His remarks indicated China may have completed a missile attack early warning system while bolstering its nuclear programs, which could threaten the United States in security terms, foreign affairs experts said.
Development of the system requires advanced missile defense technologies integrating artificial satellites to detect missile launches with sea-based radar, they said.
China has apparently increased its missile defense capabilities in recent years, as the leadership of President Xi Jinping has stepped up efforts to give the nation’s military “world-class” status by the mid-21st century.
The paper was written by Yang Chengjun, a Chinese specialist on nuclear missiles, who had long worked for the People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force, which has a nuclear missile unit.
In the paper, Yang also emphasized that China’s nuclear capacity has become comprehensively comparable to those of the United States and Russia.
China has so far pledged to pursue the policy of “no first use” of nuclear weapons under any circumstances.
The basic principle of its nuclear strategy is that the country would counterattack with the nuclear weapons remaining without being destroyed after being hit by the enemy’s nuclear weapons.
His remarks indicated China may have completed a missile attack early warning system while bolstering its nuclear programs, which could threaten the United States in security terms, foreign affairs experts said.
Development of the system requires advanced missile defense technologies integrating artificial satellites to detect missile launches with sea-based radar, they said.
China has apparently increased its missile defense capabilities in recent years, as the leadership of President Xi Jinping has stepped up efforts to give the nation’s military “world-class” status by the mid-21st century.
The paper was written by Yang Chengjun, a Chinese specialist on nuclear missiles, who had long worked for the People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force, which has a nuclear missile unit.
In the paper, Yang also emphasized that China’s nuclear capacity has become comprehensively comparable to those of the United States and Russia.
China has so far pledged to pursue the policy of “no first use” of nuclear weapons under any circumstances.
The basic principle of its nuclear strategy is that the country would counterattack with the nuclear weapons remaining without being destroyed after being hit by the enemy’s nuclear weapons.
Which did not go unnoticed in Washington
At the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva on June 30, U.S. disarmament ambassador to the U.N. Robert Wood criticized China’s nuclear arms control policy and military build-up and argued that the regime poses a major threat to world peace and security.
At the conference, Wood also quoted Hu’s reiteration that China should expand its number of nuclear warheads to 1,000 and demanded that the regime give an explanation.
At the conference, Wood also quoted Hu’s reiteration that China should expand its number of nuclear warheads to 1,000 and demanded that the regime give an explanation.
On July 31, Yang Chengjun, a retired PLA (People’s Liberation Army) arms strategy expert wrote an article titled, “Beware of Malicious Hype on the National Nuclear Issues,” but didn’t specifically mention Hu.
Yang wrote that as an expert in the nuclear arms field for 47 years, he believed that seeing recent talk in the media of adding more nuclear warheads “is extremely harmful to national security.”
“This kind of hype will only provide hostile countries a reason to attack us. It will heighten the anxiety of neighboring countries and push them toward the United States for nuclear protection. It will also arouse unwarranted domestic dissatisfaction with the country and the military for its inaction,” he wrote.
Yang pointed out that there are four purposes and motivations for those who repeatedly hype the nuclear-related topics:
- first, to instigate dissatisfaction with the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, the Military Commission and the military and accuse them of inaction;
- secondly, to attract attention online;
- thirdly, to demonstrate only he cares about nuclear safety; and finally,
- to force the experts to clarify the issues so that they can pry into national nuclear secrets.
Still, the US ambassador had to ask for a clarification. This is the irritating thing with Xijin. We have to assume he is his masters voice. Even if we don't want to.
Both "launch" on warning" and nuclear threats were directed at the US.
Damn! So everything Mike said was right, he was responding to rhetoric from the CCP.
And not necessarily their capabilities as you pointed out.
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