China To Obtain Nuclear Powered Underwater Drones And Cruise Missiles
BEIJING - China is looking at the development of "exotic nukes", or nuclear powered underwater drones as well as nuclear powered cruise missiles.
The idea of nuclear powered cruise missiles isn't a new one. Russia is currently developing and testing 9M730 Burevestnik, or the "Skyfall" missile which is said to have virtually unlimited range.
Nuclear powered cruise missiles with nearly unlimited range could hit targets anywhere in the world, including the United States.
Robert Wood, the United States ambassador to the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva says that not only is China 'looking at' developing these technologies, but also pointed out that China has been building 119 new missile silos in the Chinese desert to the North.
Ambassador Wood expressed concern that such technology, coupled with China's vast upgrades to its nuclear capabilities could disrupt the "global strategic stability" in the world and added that the new nuclear silos being built are "of great concern".
"If they were to develop... these kinds of weapons and aerial systems, this has the potential to change the strategic stability environment in a dynamic way", he stated.
Ambassador Wood stated, "This is not where China was 10 years ago. [China is now] pursuing weapons similar to some of the nuclear-powered delivery systems that the Russians have been pursuing".
He added that while Russia is looking for new ways to overcome United States missile defense systems, he suspects China is now doing the same thing in turn.
Wood said that while the United States and Russia have a total of 11,000 nuclear warheads between the two countries, they have "frameworks in place for addressing these issues" which do not currently exist with China.
"Until China sits down with the United States bilaterally, the risk of a devastating arms race will continue to increase and that benefits no-one." Wood proclaimed.
Wood pointed out that China claims it's "a responsible nuclear power" that just wants the ability to defend itself, "when we see a lot of what China has been doing, it runs counter to what it has been saying".
"It is in everyone's interest that nuclear powers talk to one another directly about reducing nuclear dangers and avoiding miscalculation".