China’s state media attacks U.S. Biden nuclear strategy report
China’s state media and foreign ministry swiftly condemned Washington following a New York Times report revealing that U.S. President Joe Biden had revised the U.S. nuclear strategy in March to address Beijing’s rapid expansion of its nuclear arsenal.
The Global Times, a prominent Chinese state publication, criticized the U.S. on Thursday, claiming that China has become a convenient excuse for maintaining a large nuclear stockpile in the post-Cold War era. The editor urged the U.S. to move beyond blaming China and focus on rebuilding trust through genuine dialogue.
Echoing this sentiment, China’s foreign ministry accused the U.S. of promoting the “China nuclear threat narrative” to gain strategic advantage. Foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning emphasized that China has no interest in engaging in an arms race with other nations.
This reaction followed the New York Times report that Biden approved a revised nuclear strategy called “Nuclear Employment Guidance” due to Pentagon concerns that China’s nuclear capabilities might rival those of the U.S. and Russia in the next decade. The updated strategy aims to prepare for potential coordinated nuclear threats from China, Russia, and North Korea. While the plan’s approval was not publicly announced, an unclassified notification is anticipated before Biden leaves office.
In response, the White House clarified that the new nuclear strategy was not designed to counter any single country or threat.
The two leading global economies have frequently clashed over their nuclear strategies. According to last year’s Pentagon report, China’s nuclear arsenal is projected to exceed 1,000 warheads by 2030, with over 500 operational warheads already in place as of May 2023, surpassing earlier estimates.
In March, the U.S. and China resumed informal nuclear arms talks, during which Chinese officials assured that they would not use nuclear threats in relation to Taiwan.
About The Author
