00:00 The Pentagon's latest report on China's military power reveals alarming developments
00:06 in Beijing's nuclear capabilities and strategic maneuvers.
00:10 Released on Thursday, the report indicates that China is surpassing earlier projections
00:14 in rapidly expanding its nuclear weapons arsenal.
00:19 There are concerns that China is drawing lessons from Russia's actions in Ukraine, possibly
00:23 shaping its approach to a conflict over Taiwan.
00:26 Of particular concern is the potential development of a new intercontinental missile system by
00:31 China which could utilize conventional arms to threaten targets in the continental United
00:36 States, Hawaii, and Alaska.
00:40 This revelation underscores the growing complexity of the global security dynamics.
00:44 The report, mandated by Congress, underscores China's status as the primary long-term security
00:50 challenge for the United States in the Asia-Pacific region.
00:54 Despite recent focus shifts to the Middle East due to events such as Hamas' attacks
00:58 on Israel, the Pentagon maintains its strategic emphasis on countering China's military growth.
01:05 China's nuclear force modernization is progressing rapidly, with projections indicating that
01:09 it could field more than 1,000 nuclear warheads by 2030.
01:14 This aligns with Chinese leader Xi Jinping's ambition to establish a world-class military
01:19 by 2014.
01:21 The report highlights China's intensified military, diplomatic and economic pressure
01:25 on Taiwan and regional neighbors as part of the efforts to counter perceived containment
01:30 by the United States.
01:31 While China maintains a no-first-use policy on nuclear weapons, the Pentagon suggests
01:37 that certain circumstances might lead to a reassessment of this stance.
01:42 This is the latest in the latest news from the Pentagon.
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