Chinese state media calls for nuclear arsenal to be TRIPLED to fend off ‘warmongering’ US amid coronavirus backlash
CHINESE state media has called for a tripling of nation’s nuclear arsenal to fend off the “warmongering” US as tensions rage over the coronavirus pandemic.
The Global Times – the newspaper of the ruling Communist Party, which has a circulation of 1.5million – published a fiery editorial in which it accused Washington of trying to stoke conflict with China.
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Chinese military officials were urged to increase the state’s nuclear stockpile to 1,000 warheads, more than triple its current estimated size of around 300.
The newspaper – which is often seen as the unfiltered mouthpiece of Beijing – called for the increase to “deter potential impulsive military action by US warmongers” in an article on Friday, May 8.
It accused Washington of “applying amplified military pressure” on China as warships continue to traverse the South China Sea, East China Sea and Taiwan Straits.
Outbreaks of coronavirus within the US military also had meant Washington was eager to show its “strength had not been hindered”, it claimed.
Editor-in-chief Hu Xijin, a party member and former army officer, said: “China needs to expand the number of its nuclear warheads to 1,000 in a relatively short time and have at least 100 DF-41 strategic missiles to curb US strategic ambitions and impulses toward China.”
DF-41s are the regime’s latest missiles, being officially unveiled last October, and have range to strike anywhere in the world.
The editorial also said the US now sees nuclear weapons as “deployable on the battlefield” – calling for more stealth bombers and submarine missiles.
It comes as the US has continued to trade barbs with China over the coronavirus crisis.
China has been accused of attempting to cover up the early days of the outbreak, potentially dooming the world to a pandemic.
US President Donald Trump has continued to fuel a theory that the virus may have originated from a lab, with other global powers also believe China has questions to answer over Covid-19.
Meanwhile, an internal Chinese report also warned Beijing should be should be prepared for an armed confrontation with the US.
The report was drawn up by the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations (CICIR), a think tank affiliated with the Ministry of State Security, China’s top intelligence body.
It was then presented early last month by the Ministry of State Security to top Beijing leaders including President Xi Jinping
The document shows how seriously Beijing takes the threat of a building backlash over the virus.
Relations between China and the US are believed to be at their worst point in decades.
President Trump has demanded Beijing pay $160billion in damages over the outbreak – while at the same time calling for arms control with China and Russia.
China has accused the US of “making up evidence” as voices in Washington continue to suggest the Wuhan lab may be the source of the virus.
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying accused secretary of state Mike Pomepo of “lies” and “contradictions” over the allegations.
It comes as calls grow for an inquiry into the origins of the pandemic that has infected almost 4million people.
And as the White House pins blame of China, President Trump used increasingly warlike language while speaking about the virus on Wednesday.
He said: “This is worse than Pearl Harbor. This is worse than the World Trade Center.
“And it should have never happened. It could have been stopped at the source.
“It could have been stopped in China. It should have been stopped right at the source, and it wasn’t.”
China has said its death toll from the virus is 4,633, from 82,886 infections, while the US has more than ten times both figures with 77,173 deaths from 1.3million cases.
