The Ministry of National Defense (MND) yesterday said China's nuclear missile ambitions contradicted its stated "no first use" doctrine that prevents it from using nuclear weapons except in response to a nuclear strike by an enemy.
"China's improvements in nuclear missiles give it the capability to strike and counterstrike its enemies. Its ambitions with its nuclear arsenal contradict its no first use doctrine," said Colonel Sun Hai-tao (孫海濤) from the ministry's Office of the Deputy Chief of General Staff for Intelligence at a ministry press conference yesterday.
Saying that China was destined to become one of the world's large nuclear power, Sun said the military was monitoring China's nuclear capabilities.
The MND concluded that it was unlikely China would use nuclear missiles to attack Taiwan, he added.
Deterrence was its military strategy toward Taiwan, Sun added.
Yesterday's press conference was held by the ministry to publicize its analysis of a Pentagon report on China's military power which was released last week. China's nuclear power and nuclear strategy were highlighted in the report.
The Pentagon report indicated that an internal debate over China's nuclear doctrine of no first use was unfolding as the nation expands its nuclear arsenal to include more mobile intercontinental ballistic missiles such as the DF-31A and the JL-2 submarine-launched ballistic missile.
According to the report, both missiles were expected to become operable as early as next year, and would be capable of striking the US.
The report added China's stated doctrine was not to use nuclear weapons first, which was reaffirmed last fall during a visit to Beijing by US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. But the introduction of more capable and survivable nuclear systems had generated discussion among Chinese military officials and strategists over how and when to use them.
The report cited public comments by Chinese military officials and strategists suggesting that under certain extreme circumstances -- such as a full-scale attack against the country by conventional forces, or military conflicts concerning its sovereignty -- that China should use nuclear weapons.
The report said the debate over nuclear options was expected to continue in China.
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