China Ballistic Missiles and Nuclear Arms Thread

[bustead]

Again, it has to do with fissile and other materials necessary to vastly expand China's nuclear arsenal.

China has 2 tons of weapon grade plutonium, which is enough for over 600 warheads.

Also, China has 18 tons of HEU which is more than enough for 1000 warheads.

 

[Broccoli]

Here is a podcast If anyone wants to know how they found silo base.

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[gelgoog]

I know the Chinese construction industry has gargantuan capabilities but I think this is a waste of money.
Just build more submarines.

 

[SimaQian]

I know the Chinese construction industry has gargantuan capabilities but I think this is a waste of money.
Just build more submarines.

Still cheaper to maintain than submarines. Maybe few only have real weapons. But i dont understand if the purpose is to divert some missiles in initial attack, then less than 200 silos will not cut it if there are thousands of warheads againts potential attackers. They should beef up the number of silos to at least 1000 maybe in the middle of Gobi or Taklamakan desert.

 

[AssassinsMace]

Here is a podcast If anyone wants to know how they found silo base.

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Love how Americans talk as if how many missiles they have is perfectly fine but somehow China that has far fewer nukes than the US is the reason why there's no progress in nuclear arms talks.

 

[Hendrik_2000]

Still cheaper to maintain than submarines. Maybe few only have real weapons. But i dont understand if the purpose is to divert some missiles in initial attack, then less than 200 silos will not cut it if there are thousands of warheads againts potential attackers. They should beef up the number of silos to at least 1000 maybe in the middle of Gobi or Taklamakan desert.

Not sure if Taklamakan is a good choice too far away from CONUS and It is easily detectable from satellite surveillance. Gansu, Qinghai is better sparsely populated and they still have Kunlun and Tangula Mountain and valley. A good place to hide the silo

 

[ZeEa5KPul]

I know the Chinese construction industry has gargantuan capabilities but I think this is a waste of money.

Perhaps, but China has the money to waste. Besides, giving the American elite night terrors is never a waste of money.

Love how Americans talk as if how many missiles they have is perfectly fine but somehow China that has far fewer nukes than the US is the reason why there's no progress in nuclear arms talks.

True, but this is relatively minor on the scale of American hypocrisies. Overall, I've been very pleased with the (so far limited) reaction I've observed to this news. People like Jeffrey Lewis and Hans Kristensen are finally starting to accept that China has something like a viable nuclear arsenal that they've pathologically underestimated. The comments section of the Washington Post has been delightful - there was, of course, the usual racist bile, but I really enjoyed the reactions from people who suddenly found religion and said, "Why, oh why has China done this? Won't somebody please think of the children." From "nuke the <insert your favourite slur for Chinese people>" to pacifist dovishness.

This barely contained panic is exactly what I want to see. Who knew some holes in the desert could do so much.

 

[Temstar]

Perhaps, but China has the money to waste. Besides, giving the American elite night terrors is never a waste of money.

True, but this is relatively minor on the scale of American hypocrisies. Overall, I've been very pleased with the (so far limited) reaction I've observed to this news. People like Jeffrey Lewis and Hans Kristensen are finally starting to accept that China has something like a viable nuclear arsenal that they've pathologically underestimated. The comments section of the Washington Post has been delightful - there was, of course, the usual racist bile, but I really enjoyed the reactions from people who suddenly found religion and said, "Why, oh why has China done this? Won't somebody please think of the children." From "nuke the <insert your favourite slur for Chinese people>" to pacifist dovishness.

This barely contained panic is exactly what I want to see. Who knew some holes in the desert could do so much.

Yes I have noticed this reaction too on reddit:

The whole logic is this :before the pandemic, China consider western governments (especially us) as pretty care about their people’s life, and would not risk like some of their city getting nuked just to nuke others. Following this logic it keeps a relatively small amount of Nukes. But after pandemic, the world all see how government don’t actually care about its people, it’s totally possible that they sacrifice majority of their population just to wipe their enemy out. And so you see what’s happening now.

Wow look at that, it's amazing how a hundred ICBMs would suddenly get Americans to calm down a bit and start thinking logically. Judging by this effect I say many many more ICBMs are needed.

 

[bustead]

I know the Chinese construction industry has gargantuan capabilities but I think this is a waste of money.
Just build more submarines.

Submarines are very expensive. Ohio class subarines cost $2-3 billion not including the missiles and warheads onboard. Oh the other hand, silos are much cheaper. For example, Atlas launch facilities are around $100 million each (adjusted for inflation) and minutemen silos are cheaper than that because of improved construction techniques. So the cost used to build a submarinee can be used to build at least 30 silos.

There are also other problems in regards to submarine. Firstly, you need to find reliable bases for them. The seas around China are heavily monitored by hydrophone networks so it will not be easy for submarines to operate in the first island chain. Another problem is that the depth of Bohai and Yellow sea are not enough for nuclear submarine operations. Finally, you will need to develop miniturized SLBMs with similar ranges of current silo-based missiles, which is very difficult.

And silos can be used to draw enemy fire, thereby wasting enemy warheads. One less warhead flying to your cities means millions will be saved.

 

[bustead]

Still cheaper to maintain than submarines. Maybe few only have real weapons. But i dont understand if the purpose is to divert some missiles in initial attack, then less than 200 silos will not cut it if there are thousands of warheads againts potential attackers. They should beef up the number of silos to at least 1000 maybe in the middle of Gobi or Taklamakan desert.

I mean you got to start somewhere. I am definitely behind the idea of building more silos