US Strategic Command: "China to Double Nuclear Weapons Within 10 Years... Serious Threat"

"China to Soon Possess Reliable Three Major Nuclear Forces"
"Over 400 Satellites...Monitoring Anti-Satellite Weapons"

[Image source=U.S. Department of Defense website]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Charles Richard, Commander of the United States Strategic Command, warned that China's nuclear warhead stockpile will double within 10 years and that it will soon possess the three major nuclear forces, emerging as the greatest threat to the United States. He emphasized the urgent need to allocate budget to modernize the U.S. nuclear forces in preparation for China's nuclear threat.

According to CNN and other foreign media on the 20th (local time), Commander Richard appeared at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing regarding the U.S. Department of Defense budget for fiscal year 2022 and stated, "China plans to more than double its nuclear stockpile within 10 years," adding, "It will soon possess reliable triad nuclear forces including responsive solid-fueled intercontinental ballistic missiles, strategic bombers, and ballistic missile submarines." He further warned, "China currently has a credible nuclear strategic capability within the region and will soon be capable of operating across continents."

Commander Richard said, "For the first time in about 30 years, the United States faces two strategic adversaries with nuclear capabilities, including Russia, and these two countries need to be deterred in different ways," adding, "China must be regarded as a particularly significant strategic threat." To prevent this, Commander Richard stressed the urgent need to invest budget in the modernization of U.S. nuclear forces.

During the hearing, when asked about the possibility that the presence of U.S. forces stationed in South Korea and Japan might not be effective if the U.S. does not invest sufficiently in force modernization, Commander Richard emphasized, "Those forces are very important. However, they must be supported by strategic deterrence."

James Dickinson, Commander of the U.S. Space Command, who also attended the hearing, stated, "China currently has over 400 satellites in space and continues to make massive investments," emphasizing, "We must develop defenses against China's anti-satellite weapons and military space capabilities."