Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
London Daily Telegraph
May 9, 2008 By Richard Spencer, in Beijing
China is undertaking a dramatic overhaul of its nuclear weapons in an effort to modernise and expand its arsenal.
One of the world's leading arms control experts has said that the Chinese have realised that their nuclear weaponry has fallen behind those of other major powers and might not survive a first strike.
Bates Gill, head of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sipri), said that as a result it was developing more flexible delivery systems, including from submarines, as well as the capacity to use multiple warheads.
"Among the major nuclear powers China stands out in its effort to modernise, expand and improve its nuclear weapons capability," he said at a conference in Beijing.
China's first nuclear test took place amid huge patriotic pride in 1964.
But Chairman Mao was famously ambiguous about such weapons, once calling them "paper tigers".
Its arsenal, estimated at between 100 and 200 warheads, is the smallest of the big powers – the United States, Russia, Britain and France. The US is currently updating its missiles and warheads.
China now has a stated policy of never using nuclear weapons against a non-nuclear country and never as a "first strike". But Dr Gill said its static nuclear delivery system had left it vulnerable to a first strike.
A sea-based capability would "make it less likely that an adversary could wipe out the possibility of a response," he said.
The Telegraph disclosed last week that China is constructing a secret nuclear submarine base to bolster its capabilities in the Pacific.
Dr Gill said the advances China was making raised questions about whether it could be an active participant in future arms control or reduction talks.
His comments were notable for being presented alongside a spokesman for China's own arms control association, which is publishing the Chinese language version of Sipri's annual report.
Teng Jianqun, a former navy colonel in the People's Liberation Army, said the increase in military spending was partly a result of improving equipment and the living conditions for its troops, and partly due to refocusing strategy across the Taiwan strait.
On the positive side, Dr Gill said that China had made a complete about-turn in policy on weapons proliferation compared with 15 years ago, when it actively sought to undermine international treaties.
He also said that despite criticisms over its supplies of weapons to Africa and other unstable regions, its share of the global arms trade had fallen to about two per cent.
May 9, 2008 By Richard Spencer, in Beijing
China is undertaking a dramatic overhaul of its nuclear weapons in an effort to modernise and expand its arsenal.
One of the world's leading arms control experts has said that the Chinese have realised that their nuclear weaponry has fallen behind those of other major powers and might not survive a first strike.
Bates Gill, head of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sipri), said that as a result it was developing more flexible delivery systems, including from submarines, as well as the capacity to use multiple warheads.
"Among the major nuclear powers China stands out in its effort to modernise, expand and improve its nuclear weapons capability," he said at a conference in Beijing.
China's first nuclear test took place amid huge patriotic pride in 1964.
But Chairman Mao was famously ambiguous about such weapons, once calling them "paper tigers".
Its arsenal, estimated at between 100 and 200 warheads, is the smallest of the big powers – the United States, Russia, Britain and France. The US is currently updating its missiles and warheads.
China now has a stated policy of never using nuclear weapons against a non-nuclear country and never as a "first strike". But Dr Gill said its static nuclear delivery system had left it vulnerable to a first strike.
A sea-based capability would "make it less likely that an adversary could wipe out the possibility of a response," he said.
The Telegraph disclosed last week that China is constructing a secret nuclear submarine base to bolster its capabilities in the Pacific.
Dr Gill said the advances China was making raised questions about whether it could be an active participant in future arms control or reduction talks.
His comments were notable for being presented alongside a spokesman for China's own arms control association, which is publishing the Chinese language version of Sipri's annual report.
Teng Jianqun, a former navy colonel in the People's Liberation Army, said the increase in military spending was partly a result of improving equipment and the living conditions for its troops, and partly due to refocusing strategy across the Taiwan strait.
On the positive side, Dr Gill said that China had made a complete about-turn in policy on weapons proliferation compared with 15 years ago, when it actively sought to undermine international treaties.
He also said that despite criticisms over its supplies of weapons to Africa and other unstable regions, its share of the global arms trade had fallen to about two per cent.