Military of China, force comment.
Military of China, force comment.

Data Figure: China’s Second Artillery Corps, the DF-31 missile fleet.

text/Jason Meeks

newspaper special compilation Wang Meina

Last week, a report on China’s nuclear policy has attracted wide attention, report entitled “China to reconsider its policy of no first use of nuclear weapons.”

but China policy will really change? According to Japan’s Kyodo News agency reported, the latest disclosure of documents showing that if the Chinese a “critical” situation, you might consider a pre-emptive attack. Such a policy could mark the position of China is not the first to use nuclear weapons has changed.

but a U.S. military expert disclosed to me that seems based on Japan’s Kyodo News reported China’s second artillery officer five years ago published two Benzhu as a basis. Second Artillery is China’s strategic missile forces, responsible for nuclear and conventional missiles. However, analysts pointed out that although China has in recent years, discussions in this regard, but it is not clear whether the recommendations have been incorporated into the book’s official policy.

members of the MIT Security Studies Program, Professor Taylor Flavell, China and the U.S. National Security Council Officer MCARDLE article in a recent report, high-level overview of China’s nuclear posture, which also Kyodo News reports, including the issues discussed.

they wrote: “However, over the past few years, there has been a PLA internal discussion, to abandon its no-first-use pledge or add conditions to further deepen this discussion on China to abide by the outside world suspicion of this commitment, although Chinese officials would not acknowledge this argument, but said they would continue to adhere to this policy either intentionally or unintentionally, the existence of this debate, making China might use nuclear weapons, the situation becomes more blurred, thus enhancing the China’s deterrence. “

At the same time, January 6, Chinese officials denied the rumors. Hong Lei, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman told reporters: “China has nuclear weapons from the first day, the Chinese government has promised will not be any time any of the solemn commitment of the first to use nuclear weapons … … China has to abide by this commitment in this A related report completely unfounded. “

(The writer is an international problem critic, Japan” Diplomat “magazine managing editor)