The Warhead Gap

China’s tactical and theater nuclear force levels revealed by Russian general

China has nearly 750 theater and tactical nuclear warheads in addition to more than 200 strategic missile warheads, a stockpile far larger than U.S. estimates, according to a retired Russian general who once led Moscow’s strategic forces.

New details of China’s strategic and tactical nuclear warheads levels were disclosed by retired Col. Gen. Viktor Yesin, former commander of Russia’s Strategic Rocket Forces, during a conference several months ago. A copy of Yesin’s paper was translated last month by the Georgetown University Asian Arms Control Project and obtained by the Washington Free Beacon.

Yesin for the first time disclosed details on China’s theater and tactical nuclear warheads showing a total of 719 to 749 warheads used on bombers, short- and medium-range missiles, and a new land-attack cruise missile, in a recent paper published in the book titled Prospects for China’s Participation in Nuclear Arms Limitation.

Yesin concludes that China’s nuclear arsenal is “appreciably higher than many experts think.”

Vladimir Putin fires off nuclear threat over West’s ‘regime change’ plans for Iran

“Unfortunately, there are many regional conflicts and their number is only growing. But the balance of strategic forces will help avoid major conflicts,” he warned.

Mr Putin laid out a future Russian nuclear defence strategy that kept the United States from establishing a global monopoly on power.

“This is not only our national objective, but also an obligation before all humanity – to keep a balance of strategic forces and their capabilities,” he said.

“This is very important. After World War II, this balance ensured the absence of global conflicts.

Full article: Vladimir Putin fires off nuclear threat over West’s ‘regime change’ plans for Iran (The Australian)