<p data-testid="paragraph-0">The Kremlin said on Wednesday it was not concerned by China increasing the capabilities of its nuclear arsenal, stressing Moscow's "advanced strategic partnership" with Beijing and China's sovereign right to ensure its own security.</p>

<p data-testid="paragraph-1">China has&nbsp;launched&nbsp;its first nuclear-powered guided missile submarines, according to the Pentagon's latest report on China's military, giving it land and sea attack options that were once the sole province of US&nbsp;and Russian vessels.</p>

<p data-testid="paragraph-2">"This does not cause us concern, our relations are an advanced strategic partnership, we have the most advanced stage of political dialogue, economic interaction," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.</p>

<p data-testid="paragraph-3">"And in this case, China, which faces very serious challenges for its own security in the region, is taking steps that it considers appropriate."</p>

<p data-testid="paragraph-4">"This is the absolute sovereign right of this country."</p>

<p data-testid="paragraph-5">Russia has forged even closer commercial, political and security ties with China, part of what they call a "no limits" partnership, since Moscow's decision to send tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in February 2022, triggering sweeping Western sanctions.</p>

<p data-testid="paragraph-6">The Pentagon&nbsp;report, published on Oct. 20, marks the first apparent confirmation that modified submarines seen in Chinese shipyards over the last 18 months are Type 093B guided missile submarines.</p>

<p data-testid="paragraph-6"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-gaining-ground-in-new-york-poll-shows-dip-in-bidens-popularity-rise-in-trumps-651196">Trump gaining ground in New York? Poll shows dip in Biden's popularity, rise in Trump's</a></p>

<p data-testid="paragraph-7">Russia has been tweaking its own legislation on nuclear matters this month, with parliament on Wednesday&nbsp;completing&nbsp;the passage of a law that withdraws Moscow's ratification of the global treaty banning nuclear weapons tests.</p>

<p data-testid="paragraph-7"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/greta-thunberg-kicked-out-of-israeli-textbooks-after-stand-with-gaza-row-651005">Greta Thunberg kicked out of Israeli textbooks after 'stand with Gaza' row</a></p>

<p data-testid="paragraph-8">Russia says it will not resume nuclear testing unless Washington does, but arms control experts are concerned it may be inching towards a test that the West would perceive as a threatening escalation in the context of the Ukraine war.<br />
<br />
<em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The Kremlin said on Wednesday it was not concerned by China increasing the capabilities of its nuclear arsenal, stressing Moscow's "advanced strategic partnership" with Beijing and China's sovereign right to ensure its own security.

The Kremlin said on Wednesday it was not concerned by China increasing the capabilities of its nuclear arsenal, stressing Moscow's "advanced strategic partnership" with Beijing and China's sovereign right to ensure its own security. China has launched its first nuclear-powered guided missile submarines, according to the Pentagon's latest report on China's military, giving it land and sea attack options that were once the sole province of US and Russian vessels. "This does not cause us concern, our relations are an advanced strategic partnership, we have the most advanced stage of political dialogue, economic interaction," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. "And in this case, China, which faces very serious challenges for its own security in the region, is taking steps that it considers appropriate." "This is the absolute sovereign right of this country." Russia has forged even closer commercial, political and security ties with China, part of what they call a "no limits" partnership, since Moscow's decision to send tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in February 2022, triggering sweeping Western sanctions. The Pentagon report, published on Oct. 20, marks the first apparent confirmation that modified submarines seen in Chinese shipyards over the last 18 months are Type 093B guided missile submarines. Also read | Trump gaining ground in New York? Poll shows dip in Biden's popularity, rise in Trump's Russia has been tweaking its own legislation on nuclear matters this month, with parliament on Wednesday completing the passage of a law that withdraws Moscow's ratification of the global treaty banning nuclear weapons tests. Also read | Greta Thunberg kicked out of Israeli textbooks after 'stand with Gaza' row Russia says it will not resume nuclear testing unless Washington does, but arms control experts are concerned it may be inching towards a test that the West would perceive as a threatening escalation in the context of the Ukraine war. (With inputs from agencies)

Russia unconcerned by China increasing nuclear arsenal capabilities, says Kremlin

<p>The US has alleged that China has considerably expanded its nuclear arsenal over the past years and will continue to rapidly modernise, diversify, and expand its nuclear forces.</p>

<p>The assessment came in an annual report submitted to the US Congress by the Pentagon.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“The PRC (People's Republic of China) is developing new ICBMs that will significantly improve its nuclear-capable missile forces and will require increased nuclear warhead production, partially due to the introduction of multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle (MIRV) capabilities,” the Pentagon said.</p>

<p>According to the latest assessments, the communist country is believed to be holding 500 operational warheads and hopes to expand it to 1,000 by 2030.</p>

<p>Notably, Beijing maintains it abides by a “no-first-use" policy.</p>

<p>In 2021, the US Department of Defense said China had 400 warheads.</p>

<h2><strong>China considering developing ICBMs</strong></h2>

<p>The Pentagon report added that China is exploring building conventionally-armed intercontinental-range missile systems.</p>

<p>If developed and fielded, such capabilities would allow China to threaten conventional strikes against targets in the continental United States, Hawaii, and Alaska, it warned.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Russia-Ukraine war: Will Putin use nuclear weapons?</strong></p>

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<p>China has probably completed the construction of its three new solid-propellant silo fields in 2022, which consists of at least 300 new ICBM silos, and has loaded at least some ICBMs into these silos, the report said.</p>

<h2><strong>Russian and American arsenal</strong></h2>

<p>Even after the expansion, the Chinese nuclear arsenal is still dwarfed by that of Russia and the US.</p>

<p>Russia boasts a nuclear arsenal of some 5,889 warheads, while the US has 5,244, according to the independent Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-filmed-with-nuclear-briefcase-carried-by-russian-officers-in-china-648464"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;Putin filmed with `nuclear briefcase` being carried by Russian officers in China</strong></a></p>

<p>Earlier this week, Russia announced its plans to depart from the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), which could further fuel the nuclear race between the two superpowers.</p>

<h2><strong>India and Pakistan also expanding their nuclear stockpile</strong></h2>

<p>Stockholm International Peace Research Institute says India and Pakistan are also expanding their nuclear arsenal.</p>

<p>“While Pakistan remains the main focus of India’s nuclear deterrent, India appears to be placing emphasis on longer range weapons, including those capable of reaching targets across China,” It said in a report released earlier this year.</p>

<p>As of January 2023, India had 164 nuclear warheads while Pakistan had 170.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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The US has alleged that China has considerably expanded its nuclear arsenal over the past years and will continue to rapidly modernise, diversify, and expand its nuclear forces.

The US has alleged that China has considerably expanded its nuclear arsenal over the past years and will continue to rapidly modernise, diversify, and expand its nuclear forces. The assessment came in an annual report submitted to the US Congress by the Pentagon. “The PRC (People's Republic of China) is developing new ICBMs that will significantly improve its nuclear-capable missile forces and will require increased nuclear warhead production, partially due to the introduction of multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle (MIRV) capabilities,” the Pentagon said. According to the latest assessments, the communist country is believed to be holding 500 operational warheads and hopes to expand it to 1,000 by 2030. Notably, Beijing maintains it abides by a “no-first-use" policy. In 2021, the US Department of Defense said China had 400 warheads. China considering developing ICBMs The Pentagon report added that China is exploring building conventionally-armed intercontinental-range missile systems. If developed and fielded, such capabilities would allow China to threaten conventional strikes against targets in the continental United States, Hawaii, and Alaska, it warned. Watch: Russia-Ukraine war: Will Putin use nuclear weapons? × China has probably completed the construction of its three new solid-propellant silo fields in 2022, which consists of at least 300 new ICBM silos, and has loaded at least some ICBMs into these silos, the report said. Russian and American arsenal Even after the expansion, the Chinese nuclear arsenal is still dwarfed by that of Russia and the US. Russia boasts a nuclear arsenal of some 5,889 warheads, while the US has 5,244, according to the independent Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Also read: Putin filmed with `nuclear briefcase` being carried by Russian officers in China Earlier this week, Russia announced its plans to depart from the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), which could further fuel the nuclear race between the two superpowers. India and Pakistan also expanding their nuclear stockpile Stockholm International Peace Research Institute says India and Pakistan are also expanding their nuclear arsenal. “While Pakistan remains the main focus of India’s nuclear deterrent, India appears to be placing emphasis on longer range weapons, including those capable of reaching targets across China,” It said in a report released earlier this year. As of January 2023, India had 164 nuclear warheads while Pakistan had 170. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

China rapidly expanding nuclear arsenal, to have 1,000 warheads by 2030: Pentagon

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<p>A senior US official said Tuesday that China is not keen on discussing steps to reduce the risk posed by nuclear weapons. Alexandra Bell, deputy assistant secretary of state for arms control, verification and compliance, told an Atlantic Council that even after US's efforts, Washington and Beijing have not begun engagement on the issue.</p>

<p>"As a first step, we'd really like to have a conversation with them about each other's doctrines, about crisis communication, crisis management," Bell said, adding that China had not learnt a lesson from the Cuban missile crisis.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Chinese leader Xi Jinping had signaled last month that Beijing would strengthen its strategic deterrent. The Pentagon also believes that China is expanding its nuclear forces and working to achieve 1,000 nuclear warheads by 2030.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinas-xi-asks-communist-vietnam-to-never-let-anyone-interfere-530061">China's Xi asks communist Vietnam to 'never let anyone interfere'</a></p>

<p>Bell also added that US has had similar talks with Russia for decades. However, Beijing has not shown much interest in arms control talks with Washington, arguing that the United States already has a much larger arsenal.</p>

<p>"We're not in that space with Beijing yet. So, there's work to be done to begin the conversation, we think bilaterally," Bell said.</p>

<p>Citing the Cuban missile crisis as an example when the US and Soviet Union came close to a nuclear war, Bell said, "We're now at the 60th anniversary of the Cuban missile crisis. We don't need to repeat that to know that we need to be at the table having conversations with each other."</p>

<p>Last year, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan had informed that Washington and Beijing "look to begin to carry forward discussion on strategic stability." But at the CCP congress last month, Xi made it clear that the country is looking to strengthen its strategic deterrent, a term often used to describe nuclear weapons.</p>

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<p>On Beijing's argument about US having more nuclear warheads, Richard Johnson, the U.S. deputy assistant secretary of defense for Nuclear and Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Policy, said that they can at least take up the matter of other basic things.</p>

<p>"If that's the argument that Beijing is giving, we're not asking to have a discussion about numbers. We're saying, let's talk about putting some guardrails into the relationship so that we don't have unnecessary crises," he said.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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A senior US official said Tuesday that China is not keen on discussing steps to reduce the risk posed by nuclear weapons. Alexandra Bell, deputy assistant secretary of state for arms control, verification and compliance, told an Atlantic Council that even after US's efforts, Washington and Beijing have not begun engagement on the issue.

A senior US official said Tuesday that China is not keen on discussing steps to reduce the risk posed by nuclear weapons. Alexandra Bell, deputy assistant secretary of state for arms control, verification and compliance, told an Atlantic Council that even after US's efforts, Washington and Beijing have not begun engagement on the issue. "As a first step, we'd really like to have a conversation with them about each other's doctrines, about crisis communication, crisis management," Bell said, adding that China had not learnt a lesson from the Cuban missile crisis. Chinese leader Xi Jinping had signaled last month that Beijing would strengthen its strategic deterrent. The Pentagon also believes that China is expanding its nuclear forces and working to achieve 1,000 nuclear warheads by 2030. Also Read | China's Xi asks communist Vietnam to 'never let anyone interfere' Bell also added that US has had similar talks with Russia for decades. However, Beijing has not shown much interest in arms control talks with Washington, arguing that the United States already has a much larger arsenal. "We're not in that space with Beijing yet. So, there's work to be done to begin the conversation, we think bilaterally," Bell said. Citing the Cuban missile crisis as an example when the US and Soviet Union came close to a nuclear war, Bell said, "We're now at the 60th anniversary of the Cuban missile crisis. We don't need to repeat that to know that we need to be at the table having conversations with each other." Last year, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan had informed that Washington and Beijing "look to begin to carry forward discussion on strategic stability." But at the CCP congress last month, Xi made it clear that the country is looking to strengthen its strategic deterrent, a term often used to describe nuclear weapons. × On Beijing's argument about US having more nuclear warheads, Richard Johnson, the U.S. deputy assistant secretary of defense for Nuclear and Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Policy, said that they can at least take up the matter of other basic things. "If that's the argument that Beijing is giving, we're not asking to have a discussion about numbers. We're saying, let's talk about putting some guardrails into the relationship so that we don't have unnecessary crises," he said. (With inputs from agencies)

China expanding its nuclear forces, not keen on talks about risks posed, says US