nuclear-news

China launches long range test missile, in effort to catch up with USA’s nuclear arsenal

China Launches Test Missile Capable of Carrying Nuclear Warheads to Europe and US New missile system places London and US east coast under the crosshairs of China’s military .International Business Times By Mark Piggott October 5, 2014 China has successfully launched a test missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead 10,000km – meaning the whole of Europe and parts of the US is within its range.
“We continue to monitor China’smilitary modernization, including its missile tests”
– Pentagon spokeswoman Cynthia O Smith

The Dongfeng missile can be fired from mobile launchers capable of traversing rough terrain, meaning they can be easily moved and hidden from detection by spy satellites.

China launched the missile on 26 September. The Pentagon confirmed the launch it took place.

Although refusing to provide details, Pentagon spokeswoman Cynthia O Smith told the Washington Free Beacon: “We continue to monitor China’s military modernization, including its missile tests.”…..

It is estimated that China only has around 250 nuclear warheads, compared with the 2,104 operational warheads operated by the US.

Major General Yao Yunzhu, China’s director of the Center of America-China Defense Relations for the Academy of Military Science, said in a letter to the Pacific Forum of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, that China still lags behind the US in terms of nuclear weapons.

“The Ballistic Missile Defense systems that the US and its allies have deployed, or are planning to deploy, are capable of intercepting Chinese nuclear weapons launched for retaliation after it has already been attacked, thus potentially negating the deterrence effect of the Chinese nuclear arsenal,” said Yunzhu.

Retired Peoples’ Liberation Army general Xu Guangyu told the South China Morning Post: “Beijing just wants to increase China’s military might and its nuclear strategic threat. It’s not really targeting the US or other countries.

“China needs to conduct intensive weapons tests and military drills because the (US-led build-up) now in the Asia-Pacific area is not good for Beijing………,.”http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/china-launches-test-missile-capable-carrying-nuclear-warheads-europe-us-1468574

October 6, 2014 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | China, weapons and war