China ICBM/SLBM, nuclear arms thread
- Thread starter Blitzo
- Start date
Many US military think tanks are proposing to use limited tactical nukes to cause massive damages or to wipe out China surface fleet because China has the number advantage. So tactical nuke would be the equalizer.
They are not calling for nuke strike against mainland. Their calculus is limited nuke strike on chinese surface fleet wouldnt trigger China sending nuke ballistic missiles on US soil, guam, and Japan bases.
More and more US would hide their key Navy assets far away in the second or third island chains.
I think China must announce they got tactical nuke capable putting into YJ21, DF17, DF 26, DF21. If they don't have this option, it would encourage US doing limited nuke strike as an option.
They are not calling for nuke strike against mainland. Their calculus is limited nuke strike on chinese surface fleet wouldnt trigger China sending nuke ballistic missiles on US soil, guam, and Japan bases.
More and more US would hide their key Navy assets far away in the second or third island chains.
I think China must announce they got tactical nuke capable putting into YJ21, DF17, DF 26, DF21. If they don't have this option, it would encourage US doing limited nuke strike as an option.
manqiangrexue
Brigadier
Yes to the bold part but also just announce that the use of any nukes opens up the use of all nukes everywhere.
A dispersed surface fleet can withstand even megaton nukes. Tactical nukes are too weak to effect navies.
People overestimate how powerful nukes are. Nukes lose energy rapidly with distance.
I think those think tank got a point on prediction of chinese behavior.
Chinese mostly interest in economics and trade and wouldnt want to destroy the earth because their surface fleet got destroyed.
China past behavior is based on moderation, It wouldnt respond harder than what the opponent did.
manqiangrexue
Brigadier
Never has China's military been attacked. That is completely different territory. Moderation is when there is no war but when a war has started, NOT fully fighting it, especially a war as culturally important as the retaking of Taiwan, is ridiculous.
tactical nuke exploded within a China carrier strike group can cause significant damages.
USA knows China has nukes and there's a lot of think tanks, not everything they say is going to become policy. In particular I think the notion of US launching tactical nuclear first strike is pretty fanciful because:
This is probably just plain wrong and it would lead to nukes on at least Guam and Japan bases. Also nukes on US surface fleet would probably follow. The whole thing would lead to all out nuclear war pretty fast. US knows this or at least cannot know with decent certainty that it wouldn't happen so a tactical nuke first strike is pretty much off the table. If there is a nuclear first strike it would just be an all out nuclear first strike, not tiptoeing across the line with tactical nukes.
Don't believe everything think tanks put out.
manqiangrexue
Brigadier
I don't know what this is. Cite the relevent text and your interpretation.
If you want to really drive the point across, the best we can possibly do without actually nuking anyone is to end the No First Use Policy immediately as the conflict begins. You'd have to be dumber than cattle to misunderstand.