After China launched an intercontinental missile, Putin publicly stated that in the event of a conventional attack on Russia, he could use nuclear weapons to retaliate. How did the United States and Russia respond after China launched an intercontinental missile? What impact will Putin's statement that "in the event of a conventional attack, you can use nuclear weapons to counterattack", have on the current international security situation?
On the morning of September 25, China successfully launched an intercontinental ballistic missile carrying a simulated training warhead in the relevant waters of the Pacific Ocean, a move that quickly attracted the attention of the international community. What is particularly striking is that less than 24 hours after the missile was launched, the United States responded quickly and positively.
According to United States Pentagon officials, before launching the missile, China strictly followed international practice and officially informed the relevant Allied countries, including United States. This move is seen by the US side as an important step in the right direction, and Washington believes that it will help reduce the misunderstanding that can arise from strategic actions, thereby reducing the risk of military miscalculation.
In its statement, the US side stressed that United States has always paid close attention to China's missile launch activities and is willing to continue dialogue with China. In particular, the US side expressed the hope that the two sides can establish a more convenient bilateral ballistic missile and space launch notification system so as to further enhance mutual trust and reduce unnecessary suspicion and tension.
In addition, the United States reiterated its concern about China's "nuclear arsenal expansion" and expressed hope that the two sides could engage substantively on this issue and take joint measures to reduce the risks posed. The United States believes that strengthening dialogue and cooperation will help enhance understanding and trust between the two countries, thereby safeguarding regional and world peace and stability.
It is not difficult to see from United States's response that it does not have much opinion on China's ICBM launches, which may be related to United States frequent missile test launches by itself. However, this time, the US side focused its attention on the "expansion of its nuclear arsenal," which obviously has bad intentions and does not conform to the facts. When it comes to the size of the nuclear arsenal and the expansion of the nuclear arsenal, who can compare with United States? China has long pursued a defensive nuclear strategy, working to maintain the minimum nuclear forces required by the state.
China's test launch of the intercontinental missile was carried out against the background of turbulent international situations and challenges to the regional security situation, and to a certain extent, this is inseparable from the United States. China's test launch not only demonstrated its strong national defense strength, but also sent a clear signal to the international community, including United States, that China will unswervingly safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests. It can be said that this is also a disguised warning to United States not to challenge China's bottom line.
Interestingly, after China's launch of the ICBM, Russia also expressed its views and took the opportunity to explain its position. On September 25, Russia President Vladimir Putin chaired a meeting on nuclear deterrence, which focused on revising Russia's nuclear doctrine to better meet the challenges of the current international security situation. More crucially, the Russian side also put forward several constructive points at this meeting, which caused an uproar in the international community.
First, Putin put forward the need for Russia to modernize and expand its nuclear containment goals. He stressed that the new nuclear deterrence policy would broaden the scope of targets and military alliances to more effectively respond to potential military threats, and that the revision would also involve further clarification and clarification of the conditions for the implementation of nuclear deterrence.
The second is the introduction of the concept of common attack. A notable change in the revised nuclear doctrine is that aggression against Russia by non-nuclear states with the support or participation of nuclear states will be considered a joint attack. This change undoubtedly reflects Russia's position in the Russia-Ukraine conflict and highlights Russia's position on strengthening nuclear deterrence. In addition, Russia has expanded the scope of "large-scale air and space attacks" and "nuclear umbrella" to include Belarus in its nuclear counterattack.
In other words, if a country or military bloc carries out large-scale air bombing, missile and drone attacks against Russia, it is possible to suffer a nuclear strike from Russia. At the same time, Belarus, a member of the Federal Republic of Russia, will also apply this set of rules.
Putin also stressed that Russia also reserves the right to use nuclear weapons in cases where the enemy's use of conventional weapons poses a serious threat to Russia's sovereignty. Obviously, this provision further broadens the scope of application of Russia's nuclear counterattack, and also increases the possibility that the Russian-Ukrainian conflict will turn into a "nuclear war" and a "world war".
Of course, this series of conditions for the use of nuclear weapons proposed by Putin also reflects from the side that Russia is currently under tremendous security pressure and has to show its determination to "break the cauldron and sink the boat". In the context of the heightened tension in the global nuclear security situation, it has also prompted countries around the world to be more active in seeking a peaceful solution to the Ukraine issue as soon as possible.