WASHINGTON – US defense officials are increasingly concerned about the deepening relationship between Moscow and Beijing, particularly as China increases its nuclear capabilities, according to a new report.
The Pentagon’s annual assessment of “Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China,” prepared for Congress and released Thursday, found that Beijing has likely surpassed last year’s estimated number of nuclear warheads.
As of May, Beijing had approximately 500 nuclear weapons, up from an estimated 400 a year earlier. The 2022 version of the report predicted that Beijing would exceed 1,000 warheads by 2030.
By comparison, Russia has about 5,889 nuclear warheads in its arsenal, while the United States has 5,244, according to the Washington-based Arms Control Association. France has 290 and the United Kingdom has 225.
China has also increased its navy to about 370 ships, up from 340 last year, according to the report.
Although Congress in 2018 ordered the US Navy to increase to 350 ships as soon as possible, as of Thursday there were only 291 ships in the US fleet.
Since World War II, the United States has relied on its numerous alliances with democratic and like-minded nations to maintain global security.
Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a meeting in Beijing on October 18, 2023. Sputnik/Sergei Guneev/Pool via REUTERS A Pentagon report warned of China’s growing nuclear arsenal , which is estimated at around 500 warheads.Photo by GREG BAKER/AFP via Getty Images
It is an advantage that the United States’ four main adversaries – Russia, China, Iran and North Korea – have long done without as they isolate themselves from the rest of the world.
But after nearly 20 months of war with Ukraine, Moscow is increasingly turning to its American adversaries for help in supplying weapons and equipment and strengthening ties through cooperation.
“The People’s Republic of China views its ‘boundless’ partnership with Russia as critical to promoting the development and emergence of the People’s Republic of China as a great power,” according to the report, which calls China by its official acronym.
“We see the PRC looking at Russia as an important strategic partner from its perspective, to strike a balance with what Xi Jinping described earlier this year as the ‘containment, repression and encirclement of the United States and its allies and partners.’ ‘. “a senior US defense official told reporters on Wednesday.
However, China is at least trying to keep the relationship low-key, at least on the world stage. For example, U.S. officials believe Beijing “has attempted a low-key approach to providing material support to Russia for its war against Ukraine.”
China has also paid attention to the US response to the Kremlin invasion.
A Chinese Navy warship in the South China Sea on October 4, 2023. The Pentagon report estimated that China has about 370 ships. AP Photo/Joeal Calupitan According to the report, China considers its partnership with Russia “integral” to its development into a world power. Photo by SERGEI SAVOSTYANOV/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
For example, Western sanctions imposed on Russia “have almost certainly amplified the PRC’s drive toward defense, technological self-sufficiency, and financial resilience.”
“The PRC is almost certainly learning lessons from the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine that are more applicable to the PRC’s goal of strengthening its whole-of-government approach to countering a perceived U.S.-led containment strategy.” “says the report.
“From the PRC perspective, war provides unique opportunities for PRC leaders to evaluate how countries use diplomatic, informational, military, and economic measures to advance their interests before, during, and after a major conflict. “.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn