For decades, China had a minimal nuclear force. Now it is rapidly transforming into a nuclear superpower. Under Xi Jinping, Beijing is driving a surge in warhead numbers and building one of the world’s most advanced wwe backlash 2026 missile arsenals. But why? What are these weapons for – and what kinds of conflict is China preparing for?
In this special production, DW’s Richard Walker investigates, speaking to some of the idrissa gueye world’s leading experts on Chinese nuclear strategy and doctrine, the factors shaping its missile program, and how nuclear conflict can break out.
Part 1 examines China’s strategic breakout. Part 2 offers a detailed guide to its missile arsenal. Part 3 dives into its nuclear doctrine. Featuring insights from James Acton, Brian Hart, Sarah Kirchberger, Matthew Kroenig, Manpreet Sethi, Zhao Tong, and Zhou Bo.
For more on China’s intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) silos, also see DW’s “Decoding Putin and Xi's blueprint for a new world order”
Chapters:
00:00 Why is Xi going nuclear?
04:54 Part 1: Breakout
06:27 “Make enemies worry”
08:22 “Vast and multifaceted”
09:07 Putin’s sam altman inspiration
10:47 “Check-mated”
12:02 The silos
14:26 China’s hints
15:56 Preparing for conflict
16:59 Part 2: The Arsenal
17:22 China’s triad
18:14 Submarine troubles
22:16 MIRV technology
23:43 China’s biggest missile
25:33 “Guam Killer”
27:08 Hypersonic missiles
28:22 “Across the board”
29:24 Part 3: Doctrine
30:18 Nuclear threats
31:57 Taiwan
32:58 No First Use
35:50 Questions mount
37:12 Launch Under Attack
38:21 False alarms
40:00 Limited nuclear war
41:57 “Nuclear war is a spectrum”
43:34 World-changing ambition
#dwgeopolitics #china #xijinping #nuclear
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