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AllAfrica
07-07-2025
- Politics
- AllAfrica
China's nuclear triad still a one-legged giant
China's rare DF-5 missile disclosure signals growing confidence in its land-based nuclear might – but beneath the display lies a triad still plagued by imbalance and vulnerability. Last month, South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that China has publicly disclosed key specifications of its DF-5 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) for the first time, marking a rare glimpse into the country's traditionally secretive nuclear program. In a broadcast, state media CCTV described the DF-5 as China's first-generation strategic intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), capable of carrying a single nuclear warhead with an explosive yield of 3 to 4 megatons, approximately 200 times more powerful than the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The two-stage missile, developed in the 1970s and commissioned in 1981, has a maximum range of 12,000 kilometers and an accuracy of 500 meters, enabling it to strike targets across the continental United States and Western Europe. It measures 32.6 meters long, 3.35 meters in diameter, and weighs 183 tons at launch. Former PLA instructor Song Zhongping said the DF-5 was instrumental in establishing China's nuclear credibility. He saw the disclosure as a signal that more advanced, silo-based systems may soon be introduced as China phases out older platforms. The move comes amid China's broader modernization of its arsenal, including multiple-warhead variants of the DF-5 and mobile systems. China maintains a no-first-use nuclear policy despite the rapid expansion of its deterrent. SCMP has also noted that China's DF-31 and DF-41 ICBMs mark successive stages in the country's strategic deterrence evolution. The DF-31, first deployed in 2006, is a three-stage solid-fuel missile with variants—DF-31A and DF-31AG—capable of striking targets up to 13,200 kilometers away and delivering up to four warheads via multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles (MIRVs). The DF-31AG is road-mobile and off-road capable, enhancing survivability through terrain flexibility. In contrast, the DF-41, unveiled in 2019, is a fourth-generation, solid-fuel ICBM with a range of 12,000 – 15,000 kilometers and can carry up to 10 MIRVs, although experts estimate a typical load of three warheads plus decoys. With road-mobile, rail-mobile, and silo-based variants, the DF-41 represents a leap in mobility, payload, and launch survivability. Both systems underscore China's shift toward a more flexible and survivable nuclear deterrent, with the DF-41 eclipsing its predecessors in range, speed (up to Mach 25), and strategic versatility. Despite rapid modernization, China's nuclear triad remains unbalanced, with significant capability gaps in its sea and air-based legs. This situation forces China to rely on a nuclear strategy founded on shaping perceptions to sustain its no-first-use and assured retaliation posture amid intensifying great power competition. Citing a March 2025 report by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, the Federation of American Scientists (FAS) notes that China's land-based arsenal remains the cornerstone of its nuclear deterrent, as its nuclear ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) leg has far less significant capability, and that its air-based leg, still in early stages of development, is far less capable than its US counterpart. Exploring the limitations of China's sea-based nuclear deterrent, David Logan notes in a November 2023 China Maritime Studies Institute (CMSI) report that China's efforts to build a sea-based nuclear deterrent remain constrained by significant operational and technical limitations. He adds that although China has six Type 094 ship submersible ballistic nuclear submarines, the PLA Navy's subs are reportedly noisier than Cold War-era Soviet models, raising doubts about their survivability against advanced US anti-submarine warfare capabilities. He explains that communication vulnerabilities further compound risks, as US surveillance networks across the Pacific can likely detect Chinese submarine transmissions. He states that the JL-2 missiles carried by earlier SSBNs cannot reach the US mainland from Chinese waters, while newer JL-3 missiles offer more extended range but are not yet widely deployed. He mentions that geographic chokepoints and detection risks also challenge open-ocean patrols, while a bastion strategy near Chinese coasts limits strategic flexibility. As for China's air-based nuclear arsenal, Aita Moriki mentions in a March 2024 National Institute for Defense Studies (NIDS) report that China's efforts to establish a credible air-based nuclear deterrent remain constrained by legacy platforms and technical delays. Aita argues that while the People's Liberation Army Air Force has resumed a nuclear role with the H-6N bomber, its limited range and reliance on aerial refueling restrict its ability to strike the US mainland. He adds that the upcoming H-20 stealth bomber, intended to correct this imbalance, may be delayed to the 2030s according to US assessments, amid skepticism over China's ability to master the necessary technologies. He expresses skepticism about whether the H-20, even if unveiled soon, will match the capabilities of US counterparts or meaningfully rebalance China's historically missile-centric nuclear triad. But what do these capability gaps mean for China's nuclear strategy? Hongyu Zhang mentions in an article published this month in the peer-reviewed Chinese Journal of International Politics that China may be using a stopgap 'manufactured deterrence' nuclear strategy. Despite China's stated 'assured retaliation' and 'no-first-use' policies, Zhang argues that significant second-strike capability gaps force it to pursue opaqueness and ambiguity to create uncertainty in adversary counterforce planning, thereby producing deterrent power. In the context of great power competition, Zhang says China is increasing the size of its nuclear arsenal to bridge the gap between assured retaliation and its stopgap manufactured deterrence strategy. Adding credence to Zhang's views, Hans Kristensen and Matt Korda state in a June 2025 report for the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) that China's nuclear arsenal totaled at least 600 warheads in January 2025, expanding faster than any other nation. They add that since 2023, China has added approximately 100 warheads annually and completed 350 new ICBM silos. However, they point out that while this growth positions China to potentially match Russia or the US in silo count by 2030, its projected 1,500 warheads by 2035 still fall short of US and Russian stockpiles. The DF-5 disclosure reflects confidence in China's land-based deterrent, but enduring gaps in its sea and air legs reveal a triad still built more on opacity than capability, laying bare the strategic tension between China's assured retaliation policy and its uneven nuclear evolution.
India.com
10-06-2025
- Politics
- India.com
China's Nuclear missile sparks global alarm, US urges Asian countries to..., missile can destroy... DF-5 can travel...
Chinese President Xi Jinping- File image Beijing: In a major development, China has revealed significant details about one of its nuclear weapons for the first time. China's state broadcaster CCTV has released key information about one of country's main nuclear-capable missile systems, the DF-5. It is important to note that China's nuclear program has traditionally been highly secretive, especially regarding specific missile capabilities and deployments. However, many experts are wondering why details about the DF-5—an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM)—have been made public. The timing of this revelation is also notable, as it comes just days after the 2025 Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Asia's largest defense and security forum. At the forum, the United States sent a clear message that amid China's aggressive stance, the Indo-Pacific remains a top priority for the Trump administration. America Issues Stern Warning To China US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has asked all its Asian allies to strengthen their defenses in response to China's military buildup near Taiwan. While making his first speech at Shangri-La, Hegseth mentioned China more than 20 times and issued a direct warning to Beijing. Hegseth said, 'Any attempt by Communist China to forcibly take over Taiwan will have devastating consequences for the Indo-Pacific and the world. There is no reason to hide this.' China Was Taken by Surprise Emphasizing on China's growing influence in the West, Hegseth said, 'We are also strengthening security in the Western Hemisphere and taking back the Panama Canal from malign Chinese influence. After all, it is a critical piece of geography. China did not build that canal. We did. And we will not allow China to weaponize or control it.' The tone of Hegseth's speech took many by surprise — certainly, China was stunned. He added, 'If deterrence fails, and if called upon by my Commander-in-Chief, we are ready to do what the Department of Defense does best — fight and win — decisively.' DF-5 Strength and its features: Officials often resort to vague language and steer clear of specific details when discussing weapons. However, this time, China broke from that pattern, revealing that its two-stage missile—described as the country's 'first-generation strategic ICBM'—is capable of delivering a single nuclear warhead with an explosive yield ranging between 3 and 4 megatons of TNT. It added that the missile had a maximum range of 12,000km (7,460 miles) – enough to strike the continental United States and western Europe – and was accurate to within 500 metres (1,600 feet), a critical factor according to modern military doctrines. It added that the missile was '32.6 metres in length with a diameter of 3.35 metres and a launch weight of 183 tonnes'. The missile's warhead yield – up to 4 megatons – is roughly 200 times greater than the atomic bombs dropped by the US on Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end of World War II.
India.com
07-06-2025
- Politics
- India.com
Big tension for US as China unveils killer nuclear missile 200 times, dangerous than atom bomb dropped on Hiroshima, Nagasaki, name is..., range...
China, a close ally of Pakistan and long rumored to have a secret nuclear arms program, has for the first time opened up about important information regarding one of its nuclear weapons. The historic disclosure marks a shift in Beijing's typically opaque defense posture and comes amid rising tensions with the United States. China's state television CCTV has for the first time made public some of the most critical specifications of one of the nation's nuclear missiles. China's nuclear program has always been extremely sensitive, especially as to the details of certain missile capabilities and deployments, and it was unclear why the details of the DF-5, a Chinese intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), had been released. According to a report by the South China Morning Post, official Chinese disclosures usually rely on vague language and steer clear of specific weapon details. However, in a rare move, Monday's broadcast revealed that the two-stage missile—described as China's 'first-generation strategic ICBM'—is capable of carrying a single nuclear warhead with an explosive yield ranging between 3 and 4 megatons of TNT. Additionally, the report also noted that the missile has a maximum range of 12,000 kilometers (7,460 miles), making it capable of reaching targets across the continental United States and Western Europe. It added that the missile's accuracy is within 500 meters (1,600 feet)—a level of precision considered crucial in modern military strategy. Furthermore, the report mentioned that the missile was '32.6 metres in length with a diameter of 3.35 metres and a launch weight of 183 tonnes'. The yield of the warhead of the missile – up to 4 megatons – is approximately 200 times higher than atomic bombs, which were dropped by the US at Hiroshima and Nagasaki towards the end of World War II. Former instructor with the People's Liberation Army, Song Zhongping, explained that the DF-5 missile—developed in the early 1970s and officially entering service in 1981—has been a cornerstone of China's nuclear deterrent. 'Without the DF-5, China wouldn't be regarded as a nation with credible intercontinental strike capability. It was instrumental in China's emergence as a nuclear power, demonstrating to the world that China must be taken seriously,' Former People's Liberation Army instructor Song Zhongping said the missile was quoted as saying by South China Morning Post. The main land-based missile in the American arsenal is the Minuteman III, which has been operational since 1970 and is equipped with a single nuclear warhead. China, meanwhile, has been gradually updating its missile forces. It now deploys improved versions of the DF-5 capable of carrying multiple nuclear warheads, as well as newer and more mobile missiles such as the DF-31 and DF-41, marking a marked improvement in its strategic capabilities. The Pentagon reported a year ago that China had over 600 deployed warheads, a figure it predicted would exceed 1,000 in 2030. It also estimated that China had 320 missile silos at three main facilities after constructing new ones and upgrading its old ones. Beijing has a no-first-use doctrine of nuclear weapons and has stated that it will not use them against non-nuclear countries.
Economic Times
07-06-2025
- Business
- Economic Times
China discloses chilling details of monstrous DF-5B missiles with nukes 200 times destructive than Hiroshima bomb, capable of striking the entire US
Live Events Strategic implications Why now? (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel In a rare disclosure, China 's state broadcaster, CCTV , has released key specifications of the DF-5B intercontinental ballistic missile ICBM ), a powerful silo-based weapon capable of delivering nuclear strikes across the continental United release comes at a time of geopolitical and economic tensions between China and the West, particularly the US, over issues ranging from Taiwan to military expansion in the South China Sea. With a range of 12,000 kilometers and a warhead yield up to 4 megatons, the DF-5B represents a significant component of China's growing nuclear deterrence DF-5B is a two-stage, silo-based ICBM developed in the early 1970s and deployed in 1981. It measures 32.6 meters in length, has a diameter of 3.35 meters, and weighs approximately 183 missile is capable of delivering a single nuclear warhead with an explosive yield between 3 and 4 megatons of TNT, making it roughly 200 times more powerful than the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima. Its range extends up to 7,460 miles (12,000 kilometers), allowing it to reach targets across the continental United States and Western Europe. Analysts see the disclosure of the DF-5B's capabilities as a strategic move to demonstrate China's nuclear deterrence strength. The missile's range and payload capacity position it as a formidable component of China's nuclear triad, ensuring a credible second-strike capability. This development comes amid rising tensions with the United States, particularly concerning security dynamics in the Indo-Pacific region. Former PLA instructor Song Zhongping stated to the South China Morning Post that the DF-5 was vital in establishing China's intercontinental nuclear capability.'Without the DF-5, China wouldn't be regarded as a nation with credible intercontinental strike capability. It was instrumental in China's emergence as a nuclear power, demonstrating to the world that China must be taken seriously,' he also suggested that the disclosure might be a calculated step towards introducing next-generation, silo-based public unveiling of the DF-5B's specifications may signal a shift in China's approach to transparency regarding its military capabilities. By disclosing such information, China could aim to project confidence in its defense posture and deter potential adversaries. This move also aligns with broader efforts to modernize and expand its nuclear forces, ensuring parity with other major nuclear September 25, 2024, the Chinese Ministry of National Defence announced that the People's Liberation Army Rocket Force (PLARF) had test-launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) into the South Pacific. Analysts suggested that the missile utilized in this test was likely a modernized version of the Pentagon's assessment indicated that China possesses more than 600 operational nuclear warheads, with expectations that this number will exceed 1,000 by 2030. Furthermore, the US Department of Defense estimated that China has established around 320 missile silos at three major besides India, China is the only country that adheres to a no-first-use policy regarding nuclear weapons, asserting that it will not engage in their use against non-nuclear states.
Time of India
07-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
China discloses chilling details of monstrous DF-5B missiles with nukes 200 times destructive than Hiroshima bomb, capable of striking the entire US
China revealed details of its DF-5B ICBM. This move highlights China's nuclear capabilities. The missile can strike the US. Tensions are rising between China and the West. This includes disputes over Taiwan. China aims to modernize its nuclear forces. A recent ICBM test occurred in the South Pacific. China's nuclear arsenal is growing. It maintains a no-first-use policy. The DF-5B's specifications reveal a potential shift in China's transparency about its military capabilities. By disclosing this information, China may seek to project confidence and deter adversaries while modernizing and expanding its nuclear forces to maintain parity with other major powers. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Strategic implications Why now? Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads In a rare disclosure, China 's state broadcaster, CCTV , has released key specifications of the DF-5B intercontinental ballistic missile ICBM ), a powerful silo-based weapon capable of delivering nuclear strikes across the continental United release comes at a time of geopolitical and economic tensions between China and the West, particularly the US, over issues ranging from Taiwan to military expansion in the South China Sea. With a range of 12,000 kilometers and a warhead yield up to 4 megatons, the DF-5B represents a significant component of China's growing nuclear deterrence DF-5B is a two-stage, silo-based ICBM developed in the early 1970s and deployed in 1981. It measures 32.6 meters in length, has a diameter of 3.35 meters, and weighs approximately 183 missile is capable of delivering a single nuclear warhead with an explosive yield between 3 and 4 megatons of TNT, making it roughly 200 times more powerful than the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima. Its range extends up to 7,460 miles (12,000 kilometers), allowing it to reach targets across the continental United States and Western Europe. Analysts see the disclosure of the DF-5B's capabilities as a strategic move to demonstrate China's nuclear deterrence strength. The missile's range and payload capacity position it as a formidable component of China's nuclear triad, ensuring a credible second-strike capability. This development comes amid rising tensions with the United States, particularly concerning security dynamics in the Indo-Pacific region. Former PLA instructor Song Zhongping stated to the South China Morning Post that the DF-5 was vital in establishing China's intercontinental nuclear capability.'Without the DF-5, China wouldn't be regarded as a nation with credible intercontinental strike capability. It was instrumental in China's emergence as a nuclear power, demonstrating to the world that China must be taken seriously,' he also suggested that the disclosure might be a calculated step towards introducing next-generation, silo-based public unveiling of the DF-5B's specifications may signal a shift in China's approach to transparency regarding its military capabilities. By disclosing such information, China could aim to project confidence in its defense posture and deter potential adversaries. This move also aligns with broader efforts to modernize and expand its nuclear forces, ensuring parity with other major nuclear September 25, 2024, the Chinese Ministry of National Defence announced that the People's Liberation Army Rocket Force (PLARF) had test-launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) into the South Pacific. Analysts suggested that the missile utilized in this test was likely a modernized version of the Pentagon's assessment indicated that China possesses more than 600 operational nuclear warheads, with expectations that this number will exceed 1,000 by 2030. Furthermore, the US Department of Defense estimated that China has established around 320 missile silos at three major besides India, China is the only country that adheres to a no-first-use policy regarding nuclear weapons, asserting that it will not engage in their use against non-nuclear states.
