China and weapons of mass destruction

The People's Republic of China has possessed nuclear weapons since 1964. It was the last to develop them of the five nuclear-weapon states recognized by the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). China tested its first nuclear bomb in 1964 and its first full-scale thermonuclear bomb in 1967. Today, China is estimated to have about 620 nuclear warheads, making it the third-largest holder of these powerful weapons in the world.

China joined important international agreements to limit dangerous weapons. It joined the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) in 1984, the NPT in 1992, and the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) in 1997. China says it does not have offensive chemical or biological weapons programs, but some other countries have different views.

During a very difficult time in history, the Imperial Japanese Army used harmful germs and chemicals against Chinese people. This caused many deaths and suffering. Even today, old Japanese chemical weapons are still being found and cleaned up in parts of China.

China has a policy of no-first-use of nuclear weapons, meaning it promises not to use them unless someone uses them first. However, some reports say parts of its nuclear forces may be ready to act very quickly if needed.

Nuclear weapons

History

Size

Policy

Proliferation and non-proliferation

Delivery systems

Main articles: People's Liberation Army Rocket Force, Nuclear weapons of China § Current and upcoming delivery systems, and Nuclear weapons of China § Former delivery systems

China uses its large land to help protect its nuclear weapons. The country spreads out its nuclear missile units so they are not all in one place. The nuclear forces are led from six bases in Liaoning, Anhui, Yunnan, Hunan, Henan, and Gansu. Most of these forces are from bases further inside the country.

China keeps many of its missiles in big tunnel systems. These tunnels can be very long and help move nuclear weapons and forces. One newspaper called this system an underground Great Wall of China. China has always paid special attention to its land-based nuclear weapons because they are easier for the country's leaders to control.

Biological weapons

Historical

China joined the agreement against using harmful biological agents in 1984. This agreement is meant to stop countries from using diseases as weapons. By joining, China promised not to make or use these dangerous biological tools.

Chemical weapons

There is very little known about whether China currently has programs to make chemical weapons. Chinese leaders have not said they have such programs, and there is no clear proof of them.

In the past, China had a lot of chemical weapons, but they say they have destroyed them. During a big fight called the Second Sino-Japanese War, Japan used many chemical weapons in China. These weapons hurt and killed many people. Even today, some of these old weapons are still buried in the ground in China, and workers are carefully finding and getting rid of them.

Radiological weapons

During a big change in China called the Cultural Revolution, people in science labs in Changchun made and tested a special kind of bomb. This bomb mixed regular explosives with radioactive materials, called a dirty bomb or a radiological weapon. They tested two of these bombs and two small land mines on August 6 and August 11, 1967.