Zhu, who speaks fluent English, is considered in Washington a strident hawk when it comes to US-China relations and to Taiwan. While this is believed to be the first time he has specifically advocated the use of nuclear weapons against the US over Taiwan, he has made similar saber-rattling statements in the past.
In February, 2000, for instance, he wrote an article in the PLA Daily, widely quoted in Washington, advocating a hard line against the US.
Warning that the US would pay a "high price" for intervening in Taiwan, Zhu wrote, "if they get involved, the American policy makers will have to consider the ... high costs they will pay. [China] is a country with certain strategic attack capabilities and long-distance attacking capabilities,"
A fight with China would, he wrote, would "seriously damage [America's] economic interests."
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