Biden Approves New Nuclear Strategy Amid China's Growing Arsenal
Biden updates nuclear plan to counter China's growing nuclear threat
In March, President Biden approved a highly classified nuclear strategic plan that, for the first time, explicitly addresses China's growing nuclear arsenal.
Key Points
- The new strategy addresses China's potential to expand its nuclear force to 1000 warheads by 2030 and 1500 by 2035.
- The Pentagon believes this expansion poses a significant threat to US security.
- The Biden administration has been working to reorient its nuclear strategy towards China as an emerging and expanding threat.
Details of the New Strategy
The details of the new nuclear strategy are highly classified, but experts believe it includes a number of changes from the previous strategy, including:
- An increase in the number of nuclear warheads that the US maintains.
- A new emphasis on developing and deploying new nuclear weapons.
- A more aggressive stance on nuclear deterrence.
China's Nuclear Arsenal
China has been rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal in recent years. According to the Pentagon, China is estimated to have around 350 nuclear warheads today, but that number is expected to grow to 1000 by 2030 and 1500 by 2035.
This expansion is a major concern for the United States, as it could potentially erode the US's nuclear advantage and make it more difficult to deter China from using nuclear weapons.
Biden's Nuclear Policy
President Biden has said that he is committed to reducing the role of nuclear weapons in US security policy. However, he has also said that the US must maintain a strong nuclear deterrent to protect itself and its allies.
The new nuclear strategy is part of Biden's effort to balance these two goals. The strategy is designed to deter China from using nuclear weapons, while also reducing the risk of nuclear war.
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