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China
possesses the world's third largest nuclear weapons arsenal, including
70-plus Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missiles (IRBMs) and 17
intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).
Additionally, China's Air Force/Navy operate up to about 145
aircraft (H-6) capable of delivering nuclear bombs and the PLA Navy has
one nuclear-armed submarine (SSBN). However, China’s one SSBN and a
fleet of “out-dated” bombers pales in comparison to the United
States’ planned strategic structure of 14 Trident SSBN, 66 B-52
bombers and 450/500 ICBMs, and Russia who possess 45 SSBN, 928 ICBMs and
95 bombers13.
Although the Chinese continue to commit resources to the build-up of the
strategic forces and
Beijing's strategic arsenal will grow in size and versatility, it
will continue to be extremely modest by superpower standards at least
through the first decade of the next century14. |
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13.
IISS, op.cit., pp. 176-179, 293,
15, 114-115,
271.
14.
Karl W. Eikenberry, “Does China Threaten Asia-Pacific Regional
Stability”, Parameters,
Spring 1995, pp. 86-87. |