Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media: Intense US efforts are being made to resolve differences, such as the issue of the Israeli presence on Mount Hermon and in southern Syria
Israeli media: The security agreement means amending the disengagement agreement, which will also address the Druze issue
Israeli media: Attempts to reach a security agreement between 'Israel' and Syria were among the topics discussed at the Paris meeting
Israeli media: Sheikh Muwaffaq Tarif rejected a US proposal to join the recent tripartite meeting between Tom Barrack, al-Shaibani, and Dermer
Saba News Agency: Two martyred, five injured in a preliminary toll of the Israeli aggression on the Yemeni Oil Company station on Al-Sitteen Street in Sanaa
Senior Yemeni military source to Al Mayadeen: We observed a state of confusion among the enemy's aircraft squadron after Yemeni air defenses intercepted the attack
Senior Yemeni military source to Al Mayadeen: The Yemeni air defense forces succeeded in neutralizing a squadron of enemy aircraft and prevented airstrikes on some governorates
Senior Yemeni military source to Al Mayadeen: Our air defenses and missile forces forced a formation of enemy aircraft to flee the airspace
Member of the Ansar Allah Political Bureau, Mohammed al-Bukhaiti: The Israeli aggression on Yemen will not deter us from continuing to support Gaza, no matter the sacrifices
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Israeli aggression targeted the Yemeni Oil Company station on Al-Sitteen Street, southwest of the capital, Sanaa, with several raids

China calls US 'biggest nuclear threat to the world'

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 17 Aug 2024 11:30
  • 5 Shares
4 Min Read

The Chinese Defense spokesperson reveals that the US has the biggest nuclear arsenal in the world and follows policies that encourage its use.

  • x
  • U.S. and Chinese flags are set up at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, on July 8, 2023. (AP/Pool)
    US and Chinese flags are set up at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, on July 8, 2023. (AP)

America is the country that poses a threat to the globe in the event of a nuclear war, China's Defense Ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang told reporters on Friday. Beijing has accused Washington of making “irresponsible decisions” in attempts to maintain its hegemony, including by intimidating the international community with its nuclear arsenal.

Washington and Tokyo played the “China military threat” card to justify their move, according to Zhang Xiaogang, who stressed that such actions only “provoke bloc confrontation and undermine regional peace and stability."

With the "largest nuclear arsenal in the world" and a strategy that permits the first use of nuclear weapons, the US "poses the biggest nuclear threat to the world," the spokesman for the Chinese Defense Ministry relayed.

According to the Pentagon, one of the subjects covered at the "extended deterrence meeting" was "China's expansion of its nuclear arsenal."

North Korea, Iran, China, and Russia are included as four possible opponents for nuclear weapons planning in the most recent US National Defense Strategy (NDS), which was released by the Pentagon in 2022 along with the Nuclear Posture Review and Missile Defense Review. Furthermore, by permitting the employment of such weapons to thwart a conventional attack, it opens the door to a nuclear first strike.

Read next: US 15 years behind China in nuclear power development: Report

Related News

France summons US ambassador over 'antisemitism' letter

CDC confirms first flesh-eating screwworm case in US

The US and Moscow signed the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, which prohibited both countries from creating and deploying specific kinds of ground-based nuclear-capable missiles. In 2018, the US announced its withdrawal from the treaty. Washington claimed at the time that it needed these kinds of weapons, in part because China was not subject to the bilateral INF pact.

The current START Treaty, which is scheduled to expire in 2026, is the last legally binding bilateral pact restricting nuclear stockpiles between the United States and Russia. Russia formally withdrew from New START last year, blaming hostile US policies, but pledged to uphold the treaty's fundamental provisions, which included a limit on nuclear weapons and delivery systems.

Zhang expressed that the US’ “irresponsible decisions and actions have resulted in the proliferation of nuclear risks, and its attempts to maintain hegemony and intimidate the world with nuclear power have been fully exposed,” noting that its recent cooperation with Japan “exacerbate regional tensions and increase the risk of nuclear proliferation and nuclear conflicts.”

Late last month, Japanese and US defense and diplomatic officials agreed to enhance military cooperation by upgrading the command and control of US forces in Japan and boosting American-licensed missile production. They cited what they perceive as a growing threat from China as "the greatest strategic challenge."

But earlier this month, acting US Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy Vipin Narang indicated that the United States might need to reassess its nuclear arsenal and posture if the nuclear developments of Russia, China, and North Korea do not change.

Narang said at an event hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) that "absent a change in the nuclear trajectories of the PRC [China], Russia, and North Korea, we may reach a point where a change in the size or posture of our current deployed forces is necessary," adding that there is now no need to increase the US nuclear stockpile, but modifications to the number of deployed capabilities may be required if enemies continue on their path.

The acting assistant secretary also claimed that the US will continue to adhere to the New START restrictions for the remainder of the treaty as long as it believes Russia is doing the same.

  • United States
  • Japan
  • nuclear weapons
  • Zhang Xiaogang
  • China

Most Read

Tom Artiom Alexandrovich, executive director of the defense division of the Israeli National Cyber Directorate, undated (Social media)

Israeli-born US prosecutor drops Israeli officer child sex crime

  • Politics
  • 19 Aug 2025
Displaced Palestinians walk through a makeshift camp along the beach in Gaza City, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025 (AP)

Hamas, other factions accept Egypt-Qatar ceasefire proposal: Exclusive

  • Politics
  • 18 Aug 2025
Palestine will not be liberated by UN reports, but by pursuing a different strategic horizon: one that does not beg for recognition. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

Economy of Genocide: Albanese's report accuses, but doesn't dismantle system

  • Opinion
  • 18 Aug 2025
Israeli soldiers stand on the top of armoured vehicles parked on an area near the Israeli-Gaza border, as seen from southern Israel, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025 (AP)

Palestinian fighters target Israeli soldiers, vehicles in Gaza

  • Politics
  • 21 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference at the Prime minister's office in al-Quds, Occupied Palestine, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Netanyahu deliberately derailing truce with Gaza occupation: Hamas

Irish President Michael Higgins arrives to deliver his speech during a 42nd World Food Day celebration at FAO headquarters in Rome, on Oct. 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Politics

Irish president renews call for UN military intervention in Gaza

US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at the US Embassy in Aukar, northern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, July 21, 2025 (AP)
Politics

US envoy, Netanyahu discuss restraining attacks on Lebanon, withdrawal

Smoke billows following Israeli airstrikes in multiple areas in Sanaa, Yemen, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ansar Allah vow sustained Gaza support despite Israeli strikes

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS