China’s nuclear arsenal is ‘intended for self-defense’ – Chinese Defense Minister


June 12 (Reuters) – China has made “impressive progress” in developing new nuclear weapons, but it will only use them for self-defence, and never first, Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe said on Sunday. , who was speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue.

Asked about reports of the construction of more than 100 new missile silos in eastern China, he said Beijing had “always pursued a proper path to develop nuclear capabilities for the protection of our country”.

Wei Fenghe added that nuclear weapons displayed at a 2019 Beijing military parade – which included launchers for China’s DF-41 intercontinental ballistic missiles – were operational and had been deployed.

“China has been developing its capabilities for more than five decades. It is fair to say that there has been impressive progress,” he said. “China’s policy is consistent. We will use (these weapons) for our own defense. We will not be the first to use nuclear (weapons).”

According to the minister, the ultimate goal of China’s nuclear arsenal is to prevent nuclear war.

“We have developed nuclear capabilities to protect the hard work of the Chinese people and protect our people from the scourge of nuclear war,” Wei Fenghe said.

Last year, the US State Department called China’s nuclear development “worrying” and said Beijing appeared to be moving away from decades of nuclear strategy based on minimal deterrence. (Report Chen Lin, written by Gerry Doyle; French version Camille Raynaud)



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