News Analysis India

Tag: Nuclear Weapons

  • Could China’s Growing Nuclear Arsenal Become a Concern for Other Countries? ,

    SOLNA: The Chinese nuclear arsenal has increased from 410 warheads to 500 warheads within a year, claimed The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) in its 55th yearbook 2024. SIPRI, an independent international institute dedicated to research into conflict, armaments, arms control, and disarmament in its report stated that “the estimated size of China’s nuclear arsenal increased from 410 warheads in January 2023 to 500 in January 2024, and it is expected to keep growing.”

    It further mentioned that for the first time, China may also now be deploying a small number of warheads on missiles during peacetime. Depending on how it decides to structure its forces, China could potentially have at least as many intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) as either Russia or the USA by the turn of the decade.

    ‘China is expanding its nuclear arsenal faster than any other country, but in nearly all of the nuclear-armed states there are either plans or a significant push to increase nuclear forces.” stated, Associate Senior Fellow with SIPRI, Hans M. Kristensen.

    China is likely to have a significantly smaller total nuclear weapons arsenal than either the United States or Russia, but due to its rapid deployment, it may eventually catch up to them in terms of active armament in the years to come, according to SIPRI.

    According to SIPRI, there are over 2,100 nuclear missiles that are thought to be in use and under control at any given time, practically all of which are possessed by the United States or Russia.

    China is increasing its weapons at a time when tensions across the world are rising due to the hostilities in Taiwan and the ongoing wars in Gaza and Ukraine. China has been holding more military exercises close to Taiwan in the past year, which some observers interpret as preparation for an invasion of the disputed territory, The Hill reported.

    According to SIPRI, the majority of nations are expanding or modernising their stockpiles at the same time as the nuclear buildup. According to the institute, Israel, which does not formally recognise that it possesses nuclear weapons, is said to have moved to modernise its stockpile, while North Korea, France, and India have taken steps to increase their armaments in the past year.

  • India welcomes joint statement by 5 world powers to prevent spread of nuclear weapons

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: India has welcomed joint stamen of the five nuclear armed nations calling it reaffirmation of importance of addressing nuclear threat and is in line with the desire to create disarmament environment.

    Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson Ministry of External Affairs on Friday said, “We welcome the Joint Statement this week, which reaffirms the importance of addressing nuclear threats, and underscores the desire to work towards creating a security environment more conducive to progress on disarmament with the ultimate goal of a world without nuclear weapons with undiminished security for all.”

    It was on January 3 that the leaders of China, France, Russia, the UK and the US issued a joint statement on preventing a nuclear war and avoiding an arms race while not aiming nuclear devices at each other or at any other state.

    Declaring that the avoidance of war between Nuclear-Weapon States and the reduction of strategic risks as our foremost responsibilities, The five countries jointly stated that “We affirm that a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought.”

    We believe strongly that the further spread of such weapons must be prevented, the joint statement added. India has an impeccable non-proliferation and safety record.

    Bagchi affirmed that India remains committed to the goal of universal, non-discriminatory and verifiable nuclear disarmament. “As a responsible nuclear weapon state, India has a doctrine of maintaining a credible minimum deterrence based on a No First Use posture and non-use of nuclear weapons against non-nuclear weapon states.” He added.

    “India will continue to contribute further to the global nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation agenda.” Bagchi said. 

  • Pay closer attention to ‘illicit proliferation’ of networks of N-weapons, India tells UNSC

    By PTI

    UNITED NATIONS: India on Monday underlined the need for the international community to pay closer attention to the ‘illicit proliferation’ of networks of nuclear weapons, their delivery systems, components and relevant technologies, in an apparent reference to the nexus between China and Pakistan.

    Addressing the UN Security Council Briefing on Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, held under the Irish Presidency, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla told the Council that India has actively supported and contributed to the strengthening of the global nuclear security architecture.

    There is a need for the international community to pay closer attention to the illicit proliferation of networks of nuclear weapons, their delivery systems, components and relevant technologies, he said.

    Shringla’s remarks appeared to be a veiled reference to China and its “all-weather ally” Pakistan as concerns have been raised over the export of nuclear materials to Islamabad by Beijing and that they are in violation of international norms and established procedures.

    US think tank Arms Control Association had said in one of its reports that China’s nuclear cooperation with Pakistan was in contravention with the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).

    Shringla told the Council that India is committed to the goal of a nuclear weapons-free world and complete elimination of nuclear weapons, consistent with the highest priority accorded to nuclear disarmament by the Final Document of the First Special Session of the UN General Assembly on Disarmament (SSOD-I). “India maintains a voluntary, unilateral moratorium on nuclear explosive testing,” Shringla said.

    He said India believes this goal can be achieved through a step-by-step process underwritten by a universal commitment and an agreed global and non-discriminatory multilateral framework, as outlined in India’s Working Paper on Nuclear Disarmament submitted to the UN General Assembly in 2006.

    India participated in the Nuclear Security Summit process and has regularly participated in the International Conferences on Nuclear Security organised by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

    India is also a member of the Nuclear Security Contact Group.

    “Without prejudice to the priority we attach to nuclear disarmament, India has expressed its readiness to support the commencement of negotiations on a Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty (FMCT)” in the Conference on Disarmament on the basis of the mandate contained in CD/1299, Shringla said, adding that in this context, India has also participated in the work of the Group of Governmental Experts (GGE) on FMCT and the High-level Expert Preparatory Group (HLEPG) on FMCT.

    As per the CD/1299, the Conference on Disarmament decides to establish an ad hoc committee on a “ban on the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices”.

    The Conference directs the Ad Hoc Committee to negotiate a non-discriminatory, multilateral and internationally and effectively verifiable treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices.

    Shringla said India has played a leading role in global efforts towards nuclear disarmament and was the first country to call for a ban on nuclear testing in 1954 and a non-discriminatory treaty on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, as distinct from non-dissemination, in 1965.

    While India had participated in the negotiations of the draft Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) in the Conference on Disarmament, New Delhi could not join the Treaty as the Treaty did not address a number of core concerns raised by India, he said.

    He said India would continue to work in the framework of the Disarmament Triad comprising the Conference on Disarmament, the UN Disarmament Commission and the First Committee of the UN General Assembly, to strengthen the nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation architecture.

    As the world’s sole multilateral disarmament negotiating forum, the Conference on Disarmament is well placed to advance the global disarmament agenda and negotiate legally binding instruments on items on its core agenda, he said.

    India has also contributed to the GGE on Nuclear Disarmament Verification through its membership of the earlier and the current Group of Governmental Experts which will meet later this year in Geneva.

    India is a key partner in the global non-proliferation efforts, Shringla said, adding that one of the important steps undertaken by New Delhi in this context is the piloting of an annual UN General Assembly Resolution on “Measures to Prevent Terrorists from Acquiring Weapons of Mass Destruction” since 2002, which is adopted by consensus.

    “We hope that the international community will continue to work towards realising our collective aspiration for a nuclear weapon-free world,” he said.