In a move that further escalates global tensions, China has issued a chilling nuclear warning to the United States. The ominous threat comes in response to a recent Congressional Commission report on the Strategic Posture of the United States, which highlighted how ill-prepared America is to confront the growing nuclear threat posed by Russia and China. The report characterizes both nations’ behavior as “militarily troubling and increasingly aggressive,” heightening the risk of conflict between nuclear peers.
The report predicts that China will achieve nuclear parity with the United States by the mid-2030s. It also explores the worst-case scenario of a potential coalition between Russia and China against the US, urging American leaders to adjust the nation’s strategic posture and speed up military modernization. However, such discussions have sparked fury and indignation in Beijing.
Beijing’s stern warning was conveyed through an article in the Global Times, the official publication of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The piece states, “The idea of ‘preparing for possible simultaneous wars with Russia and China,’ once a fringe fantasy, has gradually made its way into Washington’s agenda, which is deeply unsettling.” It then goes on to warn, “If Washington were to adopt even a small portion of the recommendations in this report, the harm and threats it could pose to world peace would be immeasurable and would ultimately backfire on the U.S. itself.”
The author further invokes an ancient Chinese proverb, cautioning, “Those who play with fire will perish by it.” This stern admonition is something that Washington should “carefully contemplate,” according to the article.
The Global Times article criticizes the bipartisan report for irresponsibly “promoting a nuclear arms race under the banner of ‘deterrence’,” branding this as “a disastrous step backwards in history.” It accuses the American report of exaggerating China’s threat and questions its motivations for creating a war-like atmosphere.
However, while Beijing criticizes America’s nuclear ambitions, it’s noteworthy that America’s nuclear weapons arsenal has stagnated while its competitors are adding to their stockpiles. A 2022 report by the Heritage Foundation provides context for America’s nuclear stockpile since the dawn of the Atomic Age.
This development is a stark reminder that global peace is a delicate balance. If America seeks to maintain this peace, it must prepare for every eventuality, including the unimaginable.