An analysis published in the National Interest magazine says that the decades-old narrative of China’s reluctance to expand its nuclear “deterrence” is no longer true in today’s world, and Beijing’s “nuclear minimum” days are over. Nuclear proliferation among its neighbors
The report notes that “if rising nuclear threats in Asia are not reduced, US allies, particularly Japan and South Korea, may be forced to acquire nuclear weapons for self-defense” because of China.
Decades ago, he notes, the prevailing view was that China strongly opposes nuclear proliferation, wants to build an arsenal of several hundred warheads, is committed to a first-no-use nuclear weapon, and will always maintain it. Its weapons are ready
This narrative has persisted for decades, and although the United States and Russia currently have long-range nuclear arsenals of up to 2,000 warheads, over time these two countries have reduced their intermediate-range nuclear missiles and strategic nuclear weapons. are Controlling agreements without ensuring that China will follow through.
This article cites the 2009 book Nuclear Express by Tom Reed, US President Ronald Reagan’s deputy national security adviser, who warned that despite the end of the Cold War and the deep reduction of Russian and US nuclear weapons, the nuclear “other” The power, China, presented itself as a peaceful international actor, but it was one of the main parties in the development of nuclear weapons technology, as in the construction of nuclear weapons in Pakistan and in the creation of nuclear weapons programs for North Korea, Libya , Iran and Iraq.
Now realizing that China is building some 360 new missile launch facilities capable of deploying more than 3,000 warheads, Beijing’s record on non-proliferation should be re-examined, the report said.
He points to former US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo’s statement that China strongly opposes the denuclearization of North Korea, which is in line with China’s efforts to militarize the South China Sea, but also with its efforts to eliminate It matches as much as possible from America. Military power in the region
Fortunately, “China’s strategy has not worked so far,” as more than 70 percent of South Koreans support a stronger US-South Korean alliance.
China’s strategy may also backfire, as the vast majority of South Korea’s population now supports securing its nuclear deterrent, while sentiment in Japan has shifted significantly in the pro-nuclear direction. .
According to the report, it is clear that China believes that nuclear weapons are “an appropriate tool of governance used for coercion and blackmail” and that China’s era of “minimum deterrence” and “peaceful rise” is over. .
Source: Lebanon Debate
