It seems like China has deployed 24 nuclear warheads for the first time in a practical setting.
SIPRI Report: “China Could Catch Up to US and Russia in ICBMs by 2030”,
ⓒ News1 DB,
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, ‘Analysis suggests that China’s nuclear weapons augmentation and modernization are progressing at a considerable pace.’,
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, ‘The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) revealed in a report released on the 17th that as of January, China’s inventory of nuclear warheads increased by 90 units compared to the previous year to a total of 500 warheads.’,
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, “SIPRI indicated that among these, there is a possibility that 24 warheads have been deployed in actual combat. The deployment of nuclear weapons by China in a ‘high operational alert status’ was observed for the first time in this instance.”,
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, ‘In the past year, China’s increase in nuclear warheads was the highest since records began in 2005. SIPRI forecasted that by 2030, China could possess as many ICBMs as the United States or Russia.’,
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, ‘Hans Kristensen, a senior researcher at SIPRI, emphasized that “China is rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal faster than any other country.”‘,
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, ‘According to The Washington Post, senior officials in the Biden administration warned that if rival countries like Russia and China continue on this path, the United States may need to deploy more nuclear weapons.’,
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, ‘Pranay Vaddi, a senior director for arms control, disarmament, and non-proliferation at the National Security Council (NSC), stated at the annual arms control association conference in Washington this month, “The time may come within a few years where we need to increase (nuclear weapons) beyond the current number.”‘,
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, ‘Tong Zhao, a nuclear expert at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, suggested in an interview with WP that based on current trends, China could increase its nuclear warheads to 700 by 2027 and possibly even up to 1,000 by 2029.’,
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, ‘According to SIPRI’s tally, nine countries possess nuclear weapons including the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, North Korea, and Israel, with a total number of nuclear warheads worldwide decreasing by 391 units from the previous year to 12,121 units.’,
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, ‘While the total number decreased as the United States and Russia dismantled aging nuclear warheads, the number of operable nuclear warheads increased to 9,585, a rise of 9 units from the previous year.’,
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, ‘Russia was counted to possess 5,580 warheads, a decrease of 309 units, and the United States was reported to have 5,044 warheads, a decrease of 200 units. These two countries own 90% of the world’s nuclear warheads.’,
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, ‘The countries that increased their nuclear warheads include China, India, and North Korea. North Korea’s estimated nuclear warhead count increased by 20 units from the previous year to 50 warheads.’,
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, ‘SIPRI mentioned that China’s nuclear weapons augmentation comes amidst several conflicts worldwide such as in Ukraine and Gaza. The report interpreted that the conflict in Ukraine negatively impacted nuclear disarmament dialogues.’,
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, ‘Russia declared a suspension of the implementation of the New START nuclear arms control treaty with the United States last year and embarked on nuclear weapons expansion efforts. Tactical nuclear weapons drills continue.’,
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, ‘Wilfred Wan, a senior researcher on mass destruction weapons at SIPRI, expressed concerns that “since the end of the Cold War, nuclear weapons have not had such weight in international relations.”‘,