Published October 20,2023
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China issued a sturdy response on Friday, strongly rejecting the newest report from the U.S. Defense Department, which claimed that Beijing possesses over 500 operational nuclear warheads.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning, characterised the report as “nonfactual and biased” throughout an everyday briefing.
According to a transcript revealed on the Foreign Ministry web site, Mao Ning said, “It calls China a threat only to find a convenient pretext for the US to sustain its military hegemony. China is strongly opposed to this”.
This comes after the Pentagon, on Thursday, asserted that China at present has greater than 500 operational nuclear warheads and is projected to succeed in 1,000 by 2030.
“In 2022, Beijing continued its rapid nuclear expansion, and DoD estimates that the PRC (People’s Republic of China) possessed more than 500 operational nuclear warheads as of May 2023—on track to exceed previous projections,” it stated in its annual report on China’s navy and safety developments.
However, Mao stated that China is firmly dedicated to a defensive nuclear technique and has all the time saved their nuclear capabilities on the minimal degree required by nationwide safety.
“We have no intention to get involved in any nuclear arms race with any country,” she stated. “For any country, as long as they do not use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against China, they have nothing to worry about being threatened by China’s nuclear weapons,” she added.
Mao accused the U.S. of creating huge investments to improve its nuclear triad, advancing the ahead deployment of strategic forces, and strengthening prolonged deterrence for its allies.
“These policies and acts heighten the risk of a nuclear arms race and nuclear conflict, and will only adversely affect the global strategic security environment,” Mao stated.
Source: www.anews.com.tr