China Responds to US Nuclear Weapon Warnings

China has urged the United States to reevaluate its defense policy and reduce the role of nuclear weapons, responding to a Pentagon report that claims China now possesses over 600 nuclear warheads aimed at U.S. targets. The report highlights a significant increase in China's medium-range ballistic missiles (MRBMs), which now number around 1,300, raising concerns about their capability to strike U.S. military bases in Japan during potential conflicts over Taiwan. A recent war game conducted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies suggests that the U.S. nuclear buildup may not effectively deter China from using nuclear weapons in a Taiwan conflict, indicating that pressure to escalate may arise when defeat seems imminent for China. The exercise demonstrated that while favorable outcomes could occur, a decisive victory is unlikely if nuclear arms are deployed. China continues to assert that its nuclear development is for defensive purposes and has called for a mutual commitment among nuclear powers to a no-first-use policy. The dynamics of U.S.-China relations are further complicated by military aid to Taiwan and ongoing geopolitical tensions.