Why Is China Building Up Its Nuclear Arsenal?
Tong Zhao | New York Times
Forget about nuclear might. It’s time for the United States to talk to China about mutual vulnerability. It’s clear that Beijing is rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal. Commercial satellite images suggest China is building more than 100 new intercontinental ballistic missile silos. Reporting emerged last month that it tested a nuclear-capable hypersonic missile that circumnavigated the globe — the first nation to do so. America’s top military officer later confirmed that “significant event,” and now the Pentagon is warning that China could quadruple its arsenal by 2030. Taken together, concerns over a “strategic breakout” by China are understandable. Without a willingness by the United States and China to enter a clear dialogue, the results could be catastrophic.
In First, Russian Test Strikes Satellite Using Earth-Based Missile
Paul Sonne, Missy Ryan, and Christian Davenport | Washington Post
Russia conducted a strike against a Soviet-era satellite in space on Monday, creating more than 1,500 pieces of debris that U.S. officials said pose a reckless risk and show Moscow’s insincerity when it says it does not want to weaponize space. The test marked the first time that Russia has demonstrated an ability to strike a satellite using a missile launched from Earth.
China’s Nuclear Arsenal Is Growing. What Does That Mean for U.S.-China Relations?
Fiona S. Cunningham and M. Taylor Fravel | Washington Post
The Defense Department’s annual report on China’s military power assessed that its nuclear arsenal could quadruple by 2030. Last week’s report also confirmed that China is building three missile-silo fields, which analysts expect to account for a significant increase in the projected warhead stockpile. China is modernizing, diversifying and expanding its nuclear forces. As James Cameron recently explained here at TMC, over the summer China also reportedly tested an orbital bombardment system with a hypersonic glider vehicle. Why are these developments happening now, and what do they mean for U.S.-China relations?
Iran Resumes Production of Advanced Nuclear-Program Parts, Diplomats Say
Laurence Norman | Wall Street Journal
Iran has resumed production of equipment for advanced centrifuges at a site the United Nations’ atomic-energy agency has been unable to monitor or gain access to for months, diplomats familiar with the activities said, presenting a new challenge for the Biden administration as it prepares for nuclear talks. The renewed work has raised concerns among Western diplomats who say it could allow Iran to start secretly diverting centrifuge parts if Tehran chose to build a covert nuclear-weapons program, although they say there is no evidence at this point that it has done so.
Hypersonic Sticker Shock: U.S. Weapons May Run $106 Million Each
Anthony Capaccio | Bloomberg
Hypersonic weapons that can fly five times the speed of sound will add $21.5 billion to the Navy’s budget and $7 billion to the Army’s in coming years, according to an estimate compiled by the Pentagon’s independent cost assessment office. It’s the first authoritative evaluation of how much the services may spend to develop and build the agile and speedy new missiles that can fly low and evade radar and missile defenses. Based on internal Defense Department estimates on the number of weapons planned, that amounts to about $106 million per missile for the Army and $89.6 million for the Navy.
S. Korean Candidate Takes Tough Line on North’s Nuclear Program
Hyung-Jin Kim | Associated Press
South Korea’s main opposition presidential candidate said Friday he will strengthen military cooperation with the United States and Japan if elected to better cope with North Korea’s nuclear threat and would strive to make the North a leading foreign policy priority for the U.S. Yoon Suk Yeol has been leading public opinion surveys since becoming the conservative main opposition party’s nominee last week for next March’s election to choose the successor of current liberal President Moon Jae-in, whose single five-year term ends in May.