Why China’s ‘unstoppable’ £175billion military is now the biggest threat to world order – and the West can’t keep up

[Beijingwalker]

Why China’s ‘unstoppable’ £175billion military is now the biggest threat to world order – and the West can’t keep up

Ellie Doughty
Published: 12:55, 17 Feb 2024

CHINA has crafted an unstoppable military under Xi Jinping's ruthless dictatorship which poses the greatest threat to the world order, experts have warned.

As the West steels itself for global conflict, Europe is struggling to keep up with Beijing's formidable £175billion army and nuclear arsenal.


China has the world's biggest army - with over two million active personnelCredit: Getty

A PLA soldier during a military exerciseCredit: AP


And experts have warned The Sun that while Europe is focused on the raging war in Ukraine, China is ramping up its ability to unleash the full might of its forces on an unsuspecting West.

Xi Jinping, 70, an authoritarian tyrant, has ruled China for more than a decade with an iron fist and has long had his sights set on world domination.

Like his friend Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, Xi locks up those who criticise his regime and pours billions into the development of new weapons to scare off enemies.

British military think tank International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) revealed this week that China's defence budget was an incredible £175billion in 2023.

China's military might​

Xi's army is the biggest in the world with more than two million active personnel.

China's ground forces, navy, air force and hefty reserves make up the enormous figure - which is miles ahead of any other superpower army.

Even the US - second in place to China - has an army of around 1.3million active reserves.

China is rapidly expanding its military capabilities, including the development of new and innovative weapons
Professor Ashtok Swain, Uppsala University

China also boasts a terrifying nuclear arsenal - fast tracked in recent years as the global order has been rocked by more and more conflict.

https://www.thesun.ie/tv/12225411/late-late-show-renamed-interesting-pattern-northern-irish-tyrone/

 

[Beijingwalker]

It is believed that Xi could now have around 500 nuclear warheads, and more are on the way for future weapons of mass destruction.

While Russia and the US have more - over 5,000 each - experts fear that China's ability to throw money into new developments behind the scene means the threat is somewhat hidden.

We can't quantify what happens in a country that's not very transparent. Our perception is that they might be ahead if they're not already
Meia Nouwens, China Expert At IISS

Meia Nouwens, China expert at the IISS, explained that the West will be looking at bolstering their war tech and weapons in the face of China’s impressive arsenal.

XI How Xi Jinping is tightening iron-fist rule with untouchable ‘Black Box’ elite and ruthless purge of ‘disloyal’ cronies

But there are fears among Western countries that we won't be able to match China's formidable resources.

She told The Sun that China is able to “throw lots of money” at testing and developing new weapons, all behind a curtain of secrecy.

This “has to some extent led to an insecurity in the West about our own capabilities to do so,” Meia said.

“We can't quantify what happens in a country that's not very transparent.

“Our perception is that they might be ahead if they're not already ahead, which makes us insecure to keep up and makes us feel like we need to figure things out quicker.”

China's nuclear arsenal​

A bombshell Pentagon report claimed last year that China was planning on doubling its terrifying nuclear arsenal in just six years - meaning it could have enough nukes to destroy the world 10 times over.

China also had a wide array of dubious allies including Iran, Russia and Saudi Arabia - meaning the expansion of its military and nuke stores could be bolstered by relationships with other ruthless dictators.


And Ashok Swain, professor of peace and security at Uppsala University, told The Sun that while China might have fewer nukes than the West or Russia, it is "developing more powerful nuclear bombs and modernising their delivery systems".

"China is rapidly expanding its military capabilities, including the development of new and innovative weapons," he warned.

The security analyst also told The Sun that while some countries in the West are working on ramping up their own military strength, the progress so far is "minimal" and aimed at Russia instead of China.

They're not just developing new weapon systems. They're deploying them and to some extent pioneering them
Robert Wall, IISS

He also explained that there is "considerable secrecy surrounding the capabilities of China's nuclear arsenal".

Robert Wall, an IISS security expert, warned The Sun that China’s weapons pose an even greater threat to the West than Russia - despite Putin's bloodthirsty attempts to absorb Ukraine.

He warned: “China is modernising across really every domain, land, air and sea, and in some areas has really made great strides."

Beijing, he explained, spent years catching up first with Russia and the US. Now, in some areas, they are fully caught up.

“They're doing it in a very strategic way, in a very deliberate way. And they're not just developing new weapon systems. They're deploying them and to some extent pioneering them.”

China's advanced energy weapons have the potential to incapacitate the West
Ashok Swain

Last year, former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Vladimir Putin was “not even close” to how dangerous Xi is.

And Professor Swain warned of the threat China poses for conflict in space: "Within the next 10 to 15 years, China's air power and space technology could potentially surpass American capabilities.

"China's advanced energy weapons have the potential to incapacitate the West by destroying or damaging satellites."

Taiwan threats & WW3​

China's lurking presence around Taiwan has ramped up in recent months, as Xi's enormous army taunts the islands with invasion rehearsals.

Beijing considers the self-governing island its own domain - and has vowed to take Taiwan by force if need be.

Taiwan, however, insists it is an independent nation after splitting from mainland China in 1949.

Just weeks ago, Taiwan elected Lai Ching-te as it's new president -fracturing already tense relations between the countries.

Some experts believe China will use blockades to cut off the island from Western support until it gives in - others think Beijing may pour its forces onto Taiwan's "red beaches".



Security analysts at the IISS said this week that Beijing is ramping up flights into Taiwan's air defence zone and military activities nearby - setting a precedent for potential action.

And the battle for Taiwan has strained relations between the US and China - further increasing it's threat to the West and world order.

By US intelligence estimates, Xi has ordered China's military to be ready to annex Taiwan by 2027 - the 100th anniversary of Chairman Chaos' creation of the communist Red Army.

And General Sir Richard Barrons warned The Sun that there are fears that one "misunderstanding" could spark "uncontrolled escalation" - leading to all-out war between China, Taiwan and the US.

As the threat of China bubbles in the background, a constant simmering fear around a potential third world war hangs above the West.

One of it's more volatile allies, Iran, is set to hold terrifying military drills with both China and Russia in a matter of weeks as a response to Nato's war games.

 

[Beijingwalker]

Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei, China's Xi Jinping, and Russian dictator Putin have already been compared to the "Axis of Evil" from World War two.

With their combined nuclear power, formidable armies and hatred of Western life, the alliance poses a very real risk to the West.



Anti-landing spikes on Taiwan’s frontline island of Little KinmenCredit: AFP


Xi Jinping is a bigger threat to the West now than Putin, experts have warnedCredit: Reuters


A Pentagon report claimed last year that China plans to double its nuclear arsenal in just six yearsCredit: Reuters

China's 'unstoppable' military is now biggest world threat & West can’t keep up

CHINA has crafted an unstoppable military under Xi Jinping’s ruthless dictatorship which poses the greatest threat to the world order, experts have warned. As the West steels itself for globa…

www.thesun.ie

 

[Developereo]

I don't know if The Sun (Ireland) is the same as The Sun (UK), but the latter is a tabloid that people put in the same category as UFO News.

 

[jzrmt]

Seems that the whole world know China got only 200 to 300 nukes.

Because America say so

They forgot , or choose not to remember

CHINA MIGHT WELL BE THE ONLY COUNTRY WITH IMMEDIATELY DEPLOYABLE USABLE THERMO NUKES
AND IF USA WANT TO USE EVEN ONE NUKE

===================================================================================================

Sailing their carriers up and down in phony FONOPs.

And a great game to bully China for the fun of it.

And screaming if their carriers are touched, China will be in a big world of hurting.

As if America the only one with nukes and happy to toss them about like confetti.


And please do not talk of nukes. China might well be the only country
with fully functional H Bombs
Chinese H Bombs are done to the YuMing configuration requiring very little maintenance.
Muricans do their H bombs to the Ulam Teller configuration needing lots of maintenances.

Each warhead needs to have about 200 milligrams of fresh tritium added every year. Here’s a pic showing W80s having their gas changed.

How many American H Bombs can go kaboom immediately? Not many.


When China was still almost in stone age condition in 1960s, China still developed the Hydrogen Bomb 3.3 Mtons just 32 months in June 1967 after China first fission bomb. China was using teams of Chinese working away at abacus as they had no computers or even electronic calculators then.

We all know China is a lot more advanced since the mid 60s.

US intelligence projection made late in the 1960s that China would have 435 nuclear weapons by 1973.
Karber’s report mentioned that “PRC data in 1995 gave the figure at 2,350.”

We all know China is a lot more advanced since 1995.

Why You Should Fear China's Nuclear Weapons

Underground Great Wall of China - Wikipedia

And remember the DF5s and DF31AG as well. About 100 or more of them, mirving 10 nukes or more.
China has at least three brigades of DF-5 missiles. Assuming all three brigades have been modernized, that's 360 thermonuclear warheads with a half-megaton on each warhead.
3 brigades DF-5B ICBM x 12 missiles per brigade x 10 MIRVs per missile = 360 thermonuclear warheads carried on DF-5B ICBMs

DF-5B got throw weight of 5,000 kgs
In 2017, China successfully completed tests of DF-5C. Presumably with greater throw weight and greater accuracy in targetting.

7 brigades DF-31A ICBM (since 2007 introduction and adding one brigade per year) x 12 missiles per brigade x 3 MIRVs = 252 thermonuclear warheads carried on DF-31A ICBMs (assuming NO RELOAD missile per TEL; if you assume ONE reload missile per TEL then you double the number of warheads to 504 thermonuclear warheads).

Since then, China tested and got operational DF31AG and DF31B. Obviously able to throw more warheads than the DF31A. The DF31s are solid fuel and can fire within 3 to 5 minutes.

And the H-6K bombers. H-6K can carry up to six YJ-12 and 6-7 ALCMs; and air launched missiles (CH-AS-X-13)
As at 2015, there are 15 numbers of H-6Ks, and 150 numbers of assorted H-6s.
Using just H-6Ks, there will be need for 15X10 , or 150 thermonuclear bombs.
2015 is 5 years ago. You can be sure there will be even more numbers of H-6K, and even more advanced bombers being build by China.

DF-41 - Wikipedia

The Dong Feng 41 (CSS-X-10) is a road- and rail-mobile intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). The DF-41 completed all testing stages and deployed in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) since 2017. It is estimated to have an operational range of 12,000 to 15,000 km, which would make it the longest range missile in operation. It will likely have a top speed of Mach 25 and will be capable of delivering up to 10 MIRVed warheads. Throw weight of DF-41 is 2,500 kg.

The DF-41 is a three-stage solid-fueled intercontinental ballistic missile reported to have a maximum range of up to 15,000 kilometers (more than 9320 miles) and a top speed of Mach 25 (19,030 mph). It is said to be capable of carrying up to 10 multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle (MIRVs). Its launch preparation time is estimated to be between 3 to 5 minutes.

This would make the DF-41 the world's longest range missile, surpassing the range of the US LGM-30 Minuteman which has a reported range of 13,000 km. Throw weight of LGM-30 is only 1000kg or just 3 numbers of 170kton nukes. USA UGM-133 Trident II throw weight is only 2,800 kg.



Four brigades of DF-41 ICBMs (Heilongjiang, Henan, Xinjiang, and Tibet Provinces) with one re-load per DF-41 TEL yields 96 total DF-41 ICBMs.
How many brigades of DF-41 since 2017 number of 4 brigades?
6 Brigades or 8 Brigades?

Reported DF-41 Deployment: China 'Responding to US Missile Defense in Asia'
Expert: DF-41 among most advanced missiles in the world


If China got only 260 thermonukes like what everyone is saying and hoping, the surplus warheads will be delivering dim sum and tea bags and cleaned pressed laundry from Chinese laundrymen.

Please remember DF-41 got a very big brother coming up as well in case you think DF-41 not worthy enough to deliver dim sum and tea bags and cleaned laundry.
Russia’s RS-28 “Sarmat” ten-ton payload, rated as the most dangerous ICBM . Reportedly it may carry up to fifteen 350 kiloton warheads, or up to twenty-four of the new “Avangard” nuclear-armed Hypersonic Glide Vehicle (HGV) warheads. Sarmat will be dwarfed by Chinese new missile with even larger twenty-ton payload. That will be solid-fuel space-launch vehicle (SLV), and could form the basis for what might become the world’s largest “mobile” ICBM.
The Next China Military Threat: The World's Biggest Mobile ICBM?


SSBNs
Type 094 Jin Class SSBN

Currently 6 of type 094 but projected to be 8 in years to come.
Carrying 12 numbers of JL-2, mirving 3–4 thermonuclear warheads.
Or 288 nuclear warheads

Type 096 Tang Class SSBN
This is similar to Ohio Class

Carrying 24 JL-3 missiles , each mirving 5–7 warheads.
Currently, 6 numbers of 096 SSBNs are being build simultaneously.
Using 6x24x5, we have 720 thermonuclear warheads.

Or at least 1000 nukes can be delivered by China.
Or the warheads delivered are empty. Or used to deliver dim sums, General Tso chicken, wulung tea bags and cleaned laundry by Chink laundrymen, express delivery.

If China is ever turned into a nuclear wasteland, those that send nukes into China will be nuked into glowing and molten multicolored wasteland.

China promised never to use the first nuke. But if just one nuke land on China or her forces, ALL THE USA BASES FROM EUROPE, DIEGO GARCIA , SINGAPORE . JAPAN AND USA HERSELF WILL BE SEAS AND LAKES OF MOLTEN MULTI COLOR GLASS.
None of the USA carriers will be spared. The carriers will be taken out with nukes even if the carriers hide in Frisco Bay or in the Atlantic Ocean or any other ocean.

And as demonstrated so clearly in KSA a few days ago, the Aegis and Patriot systems defending Saudi a joke as the Aegis and Patriot cannot even detect a few sub Mach cruise missiles not to talk of taking them down. Even to now, no one sure where those came from and who flown them. Despite overlapping coverage of those Patriot and Aegis systems.
New sales pitch? US makes the world’s ‘finest’ anti-air systems, but sometimes they just don’t work, Pompeo explains
Saudi air defenses like Patriot & Aegis don’t match their advertised properties, unfit for real combat – Russian Army (MAP)

How will the Patriot systems in USA defend against ICBMs coming in at speed of Mach 25 when they cannot even detect missiles at sub Mach or even know where the missiles came from despite overlapping coverage?

Allies of the country that nuke China will not go unpunished as well. Whether they could not stop USA or do not want to stop USA or USA do not want to listen to them will be irrelevant to China.
A nuked China will be very very weak. And China recalled the days where the British and French and Japan and USA came to carve her up when China was weak.
China will not allow that to happen again. China will ensure those countries will be weaker than a nuked China, or exist only in name after a nuked China

So please let peace prevail and it is irrelevant whether you think China only got 260 nukes
The lucky ones will be those that die in the first micro second.
Those still alive a year later will wish they gone at the very beginning.

And why the war fought or even started, no one will give a flying **** as to the reasons.

Even so, China never ever threatened to use nukes. Other than if nuke used on China, China will retaliate and use nukes as well.

So please be peaceful and respectful and more courtesy, and no more phony FONOPs and playing games of who will blink with China with phony FONOPs. Do not play with fire regarding Taiwan. AND DO NOT THREATEN TO NUKE CHINA.

 

[nahtanbob]

Seems that the whole world know China got only 200 to 300 nukes.

Because America say so

They forgot , or choose not to remember

CHINA MIGHT WELL BE THE ONLY COUNTRY WITH IMMEDIATELY DEPLOYABLE USABLE THERMO NUKES
AND IF USA WANT TO USE EVEN ONE NUKE

===================================================================================================

Sailing their carriers up and down in phony FONOPs.

And a great game to bully China for the fun of it.

And screaming if their carriers are touched, China will be in a big world of hurting.

As if America the only one with nukes and happy to toss them about like confetti.


And please do not talk of nukes. China might well be the only country
with fully functional H Bombs
Chinese H Bombs are done to the YuMing configuration requiring very little maintenance.
Muricans do their H bombs to the Ulam Teller configuration needing lots of maintenances.

Each warhead needs to have about 200 milligrams of fresh tritium added every year. Here’s a pic showing W80s having their gas changed.

How many American H Bombs can go kaboom immediately? Not many.


When China was still almost in stone age condition in 1960s, China still developed the Hydrogen Bomb 3.3 Mtons just 32 months in June 1967 after China first fission bomb. China was using teams of Chinese working away at abacus as they had no computers or even electronic calculators then.

We all know China is a lot more advanced since the mid 60s.

US intelligence projection made late in the 1960s that China would have 435 nuclear weapons by 1973.
Karber’s report mentioned that “PRC data in 1995 gave the figure at 2,350.”

We all know China is a lot more advanced since 1995.

Why You Should Fear China's Nuclear Weapons

Underground Great Wall of China - Wikipedia

And remember the DF5s and DF31AG as well. About 100 or more of them, mirving 10 nukes or more.
China has at least three brigades of DF-5 missiles. Assuming all three brigades have been modernized, that's 360 thermonuclear warheads with a half-megaton on each warhead.
3 brigades DF-5B ICBM x 12 missiles per brigade x 10 MIRVs per missile = 360 thermonuclear warheads carried on DF-5B ICBMs

DF-5B got throw weight of 5,000 kgs
In 2017, China successfully completed tests of DF-5C. Presumably with greater throw weight and greater accuracy in targetting.

7 brigades DF-31A ICBM (since 2007 introduction and adding one brigade per year) x 12 missiles per brigade x 3 MIRVs = 252 thermonuclear warheads carried on DF-31A ICBMs (assuming NO RELOAD missile per TEL; if you assume ONE reload missile per TEL then you double the number of warheads to 504 thermonuclear warheads).

Since then, China tested and got operational DF31AG and DF31B. Obviously able to throw more warheads than the DF31A. The DF31s are solid fuel and can fire within 3 to 5 minutes.

And the H-6K bombers. H-6K can carry up to six YJ-12 and 6-7 ALCMs; and air launched missiles (CH-AS-X-13)
As at 2015, there are 15 numbers of H-6Ks, and 150 numbers of assorted H-6s.
Using just H-6Ks, there will be need for 15X10 , or 150 thermonuclear bombs.
2015 is 5 years ago. You can be sure there will be even more numbers of H-6K, and even more advanced bombers being build by China.

DF-41 - Wikipedia

The Dong Feng 41 (CSS-X-10) is a road- and rail-mobile intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). The DF-41 completed all testing stages and deployed in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) since 2017. It is estimated to have an operational range of 12,000 to 15,000 km, which would make it the longest range missile in operation. It will likely have a top speed of Mach 25 and will be capable of delivering up to 10 MIRVed warheads. Throw weight of DF-41 is 2,500 kg.

The DF-41 is a three-stage solid-fueled intercontinental ballistic missile reported to have a maximum range of up to 15,000 kilometers (more than 9320 miles) and a top speed of Mach 25 (19,030 mph). It is said to be capable of carrying up to 10 multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle (MIRVs). Its launch preparation time is estimated to be between 3 to 5 minutes.

This would make the DF-41 the world's longest range missile, surpassing the range of the US LGM-30 Minuteman which has a reported range of 13,000 km. Throw weight of LGM-30 is only 1000kg or just 3 numbers of 170kton nukes. USA UGM-133 Trident II throw weight is only 2,800 kg.



Four brigades of DF-41 ICBMs (Heilongjiang, Henan, Xinjiang, and Tibet Provinces) with one re-load per DF-41 TEL yields 96 total DF-41 ICBMs.
How many brigades of DF-41 since 2017 number of 4 brigades?
6 Brigades or 8 Brigades?

Reported DF-41 Deployment: China 'Responding to US Missile Defense in Asia'
Expert: DF-41 among most advanced missiles in the world


If China got only 260 thermonukes like what everyone is saying and hoping, the surplus warheads will be delivering dim sum and tea bags and cleaned pressed laundry from Chinese laundrymen.

Please remember DF-41 got a very big brother coming up as well in case you think DF-41 not worthy enough to deliver dim sum and tea bags and cleaned laundry.
Russia’s RS-28 “Sarmat” ten-ton payload, rated as the most dangerous ICBM . Reportedly it may carry up to fifteen 350 kiloton warheads, or up to twenty-four of the new “Avangard” nuclear-armed Hypersonic Glide Vehicle (HGV) warheads. Sarmat will be dwarfed by Chinese new missile with even larger twenty-ton payload. That will be solid-fuel space-launch vehicle (SLV), and could form the basis for what might become the world’s largest “mobile” ICBM.
The Next China Military Threat: The World's Biggest Mobile ICBM?


SSBNs
Type 094 Jin Class SSBN

Currently 6 of type 094 but projected to be 8 in years to come.
Carrying 12 numbers of JL-2, mirving 3–4 thermonuclear warheads.
Or 288 nuclear warheads

Type 096 Tang Class SSBN
This is similar to Ohio Class

Carrying 24 JL-3 missiles , each mirving 5–7 warheads.
Currently, 6 numbers of 096 SSBNs are being build simultaneously.
Using 6x24x5, we have 720 thermonuclear warheads.

Or at least 1000 nukes can be delivered by China.
Or the warheads delivered are empty. Or used to deliver dim sums, General Tso chicken, wulung tea bags and cleaned laundry by Chink laundrymen, express delivery.

If China is ever turned into a nuclear wasteland, those that send nukes into China will be nuked into glowing and molten multicolored wasteland.

China promised never to use the first nuke. But if just one nuke land on China or her forces, ALL THE USA BASES FROM EUROPE, DIEGO GARCIA , SINGAPORE . JAPAN AND USA HERSELF WILL BE SEAS AND LAKES OF MOLTEN MULTI COLOR GLASS.
None of the USA carriers will be spared. The carriers will be taken out with nukes even if the carriers hide in Frisco Bay or in the Atlantic Ocean or any other ocean.

And as demonstrated so clearly in KSA a few days ago, the Aegis and Patriot systems defending Saudi a joke as the Aegis and Patriot cannot even detect a few sub Mach cruise missiles not to talk of taking them down. Even to now, no one sure where those came from and who flown them. Despite overlapping coverage of those Patriot and Aegis systems.
New sales pitch? US makes the world’s ‘finest’ anti-air systems, but sometimes they just don’t work, Pompeo explains
Saudi air defenses like Patriot & Aegis don’t match their advertised properties, unfit for real combat – Russian Army (MAP)

How will the Patriot systems in USA defend against ICBMs coming in at speed of Mach 25 when they cannot even detect missiles at sub Mach or even know where the missiles came from despite overlapping coverage?

Allies of the country that nuke China will not go unpunished as well. Whether they could not stop USA or do not want to stop USA or USA do not want to listen to them will be irrelevant to China.
A nuked China will be very very weak. And China recalled the days where the British and French and Japan and USA came to carve her up when China was weak.
China will not allow that to happen again. China will ensure those countries will be weaker than a nuked China, or exist only in name after a nuked China

So please let peace prevail and it is irrelevant whether you think China only got 260 nukes
The lucky ones will be those that die in the first micro second.
Those still alive a year later will wish they gone at the very beginning.

And why the war fought or even started, no one will give a flying **** as to the reasons.

Even so, China never ever threatened to use nukes. Other than if nuke used on China, China will retaliate and use nukes as well.

So please be peaceful and respectful and more courtesy, and no more phony FONOPs and playing games of who will blink with China with phony FONOPs. Do not play with fire regarding Taiwan. AND DO NOT THREATEN TO NUKE CHINA.

paper tigers as usual

 

[FuturePAF]

paper tigers as usual

Neither paper tigers nor 10 feet tall, but they are maintaining opaqueness. Should they ever be field tested, as they were somewhat in South Sudan (UN peacekeepers), they may reveal their current capabilities. They and the world are better off everyone believes what they want to believe and we stay out of any kinetic conflicts. Let economics play out and settle the score.