Roshan Writes:Reports of China test firing its DF- 5C with 10 – Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicles, or (MIRVs) show a subtle shift in China’s nuclear strategy. The deception and the clandestine nature of China’s build-up of nuclear assets, confirms that China cannot be taken on face value, not that we do, but this will certainly question China’s propaganda of being a responsible nuclear power. This is certainly going to have repercussions not only in Asia but also on the disarmament efforts between the US and the Russians. Slowly and steadily China is cursing to become a major nuclear power, and with more MIRVs coming up the Chinese nuclear warhead inventory is going to increase which in turn will impact the stability in Asia. One also needs to state China’s double standards as far as testing is concerned because if any adversary tests any missile China is first to criticise, the classic example is when India tested its Agni missile recently, but the morals change when China is in question. If China states that it is a responsible nuclear weapon state then it should lead by example and motivate other nations to go in for nuclear disarmament. But the ground realities are different. China is not only aiding Pakistan in developing missiles but both of them are also increasing and diversifying their nuclear arsenals.
China is not only increasing its nuclear arsenal, but also improving its conventional strength, and developing technologies like hypersonic glide vehicles, an advanced radar technology to detect Stealth jets, launched its first quantum communication satellite, etc.The radar developed is capable of detecting a target at a range of 60 miles and this was tested in mid-August, it is believed that the radar uses quantum entanglement photons, which means it has better detection capabilities than conventional systems, all this means it can more easily track modern aircraft that use stealth technology or baffle enemy radar[i].
China is also developing ‘Sharp Sword’ stealth drone which has the capacity to carry payload of 4400lbs. This is to be inducted as early as 2019-2020.This depicts that China has been researching on alternate technologies for a long time. Just a few months ago, China unveiled its most powerful drone bomber, which can fly for two days without refuelling within a range of 15,000 miles and the CH-5 unmanned aerial vehicle, China’s largest combat drone, made its first flight last year and appears to be based on the US MQ-9 reaper[ii].All these are sure to change the dynamics and bring more instability. The question is- Is India doing enough to counter these new developments?
[i] https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/world/china-can-now-detect-stealth-jets-with-its-first-quantum-radar/
[ii] https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/world/sharp-sword-china-unveils-stealth-drone-that-can-carry-more-than-4000-pounds-of-bombs/