Nuclear Notebook
Chinese nuclear forces, 2016
ABSTRACT
The
modernization of China’s land-based nuclear-capable missile force has
progressed significantly over the past year, with Beijing fielding a new
version of an existing nuclear missile and a new dual-capable missile.
The country has also reorganized its nuclear missile command structure.
The authors estimate that, in total, China has a stockpile of
approximately 260 nuclear warheads for delivery by nearly 150 land-based
ballistic missiles, 48 sea-based ballistic missiles, and bombers. The
Chinese intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) force will probably
continue to grow slowly, such that the number of ICBM warheads primarily
targeted against the United States may exceed 100 a decade from now.
Although there is no sign that the Chinese government has officially
diverted from its no-first-use nuclear policy, its modernization program
is adding significant new capabilities. These qualitative improvements
may in turn alter Chinese nuclear policy and strategy.
http://tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00963402.2016.1194054
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