MKsport formation of Dongfeng-41 nuclear missiles takes part in a military parade celebrating the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC) in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 1, 2019. (Xinhua/Xia Yifang)" src="https://www.globaltimes.cn/Portals/0/attachment/2021/2021-07-02/196293ed-d660-42fc-a86b-6ec7f463e780.jpeg" />

The formation of Dongfeng-41 nuclear missiles takes part in a military parade celebrating the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC) in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 1, 2019. (Xinhua/Xia Yifang)

Possessing nearly half of the world's nuclear weapons, much more than China's, the US' hyping of the "China nuclear threat" theory is a ridiculous attempt to further consolidate its nuclear dominance, and it is the US that should disarm more nukes to make the world a safer place, observers said.

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) on Monday released its Yearbook 2024, noting that nuclear arsenals are being strengthened around the world as geopolitical relations deteriorate.

Although SIPRI reported that Russia and the US together possess almost 90 percent of all nuclear weapons, with a SIPRI associate senior fellow saying that "in nearly all of the nuclear-armed states there are either plans or a significant push to increase nuclear forces," US media such as The Washington Post highlighted the parts involving China.

Citing the SIPRI report, The Washington Post said that China's nuclear arsenal grew from 410 warheads last year to 500 as of January this year, and that China is believed to have placed some warheads on high operational alert for the first time. According to SIPRI report, about 2,100 deployed nuclear warheads are being kept in a state of "high operational alert" on ballistic missiles - and while almost all belong to Russia or the US.

The Washington Post then quoted a senior Biden administration official as saying recently that the US might need to "deploy a greater arsenal of nuclear weapons if rivals such as Russia and China continue on this path."

The US has over 5,000 nuclear warheads, which is about 10 times China's figure, according to the SIPRI report.

Chinese experts reached by the Global Times said that SIPRI's figures, especially those for China, are inaccurate estimations as China does not officially publish details of its nuclear stockpile.

Nevertheless, China's nuclear arsenal is far smaller than those of the US and Russia, and China has a need to modernize its nuclear arsenal to maintain a certain level of deterrence to safeguard peace and stability amid the deteriorating security environment, including the strategic encirclement by the US, experts said.

It is obvious that the US is using the "China nuclear threat" theory in an attempt to contain China's legitimate right to modernize its nuclear arsenal, and to create excuses for its own nuclear expansion to maintain its nuclear dominance, analysts said, noting that it is the US that has nearly half of the world's nuclear warheads and should disarm more nukes to create a strategic balance with others.

In response to a question on China's nuclear arsenal figure released in the SIPRI report, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a regular press conference on Monday that people should focus more on situations such as the US' huge investments in upgrading its nuclear triad and its enhancements, sharing and expanding of deterrence, which are the real major problems that concern global strategic stability.

Lin said at June 11's regular press conference that China follows a policy of "no first use" of nuclear weapons, always keeps its nuclear capabilities at the minimum level required by national security, never engages in any form of arms race and poses no threat to other countries.