On November 2, 2022, the China Military outlet, which is backed by the Chinese People's Liberation Army, published an article titled "Three Defense Reports At A Time – What's The Message From The U.S.?"
The article is about the United States' 2022 National Defense Strategy, which was published on October 27, 2022, along with the 2022 Nuclear Posture Review and the 2022 Missile Defense Review.
The article says that "multi-tiered changes" have been taking place in U.S. defense policy, and that all three reports view China as America's biggest enemy. It speculates that America's military alliances in eastern Asia have increased importance, and that it will continue to "tighten the screws" on NATO. In addition, it says that despite U.S. President Joe Biden's campaign promises to build a world free of nuclear weapons, the United States has been improving its nuclear capabilities. It says that as a result, the U.S. has "lowered the threshold" for it to use nuclear weapons, increasing the risk of "nuclear conflicts".[1]
The article was originally written in Chinese and was translated to English by the outlet. Below is the text of article:
Simultaneous Release Of All Three Reports "Portends Multi-Tiered Changes" To U.S. Defense Policies, With China As "Arch-Rival"
It is reported that the U.S. released the 2022 National Defense Strategy on October 27, along with the 2022 Missile Defense Review and 2022 Nuclear Posture Review, marking the first time that all three defense reports were released at the same time.
According to military observer Teng Jianqun, releasing three defense reports simultaneously is a rare move that portends multi-tiered changes, covering national security strategy and the development of military technology.
The biggest change in the three reports is that they all expressly take China as America's arch rival. They also specify America's determined pursuit of military superiority, especially in the field of military technology, stressing the research and development of emerging weapon systems and tactical nuclear weapons. Moreover, military alliance will be a pillar of America's future military activities worldwide. In the Asia Pacific, it will strengthen the military alliance relationship with countries like ROK, Japan, Australia, and the Philippines; in Europe, it will continue to tighten the screws on NATO.
U.S. Modernizing Nuclear Arsenal Increases Risk Of Nuclear Conflicts
The latest Nuclear Posture Review emphasized that maintaining strategic nuclear deterrence is Pentagon's most important task, and the U.S. will continue to modernize its nuclear arsenal. As Teng said, U.S. President Biden vowed during the presidential election campaign that he would carry on the Obama administration's policy of building a world free from nuclear weapons. But the moment he was elected, he continued to see nuclear weapons as an important approach to deterrence, not only improving the quality of strategic nuclear weapons but also developing tactical ones capable of precise strikes. This has largely lowered the threshold for the U.S. to use nuclear weapons and added to the risk of nuclear conflicts.
While upgrading its nuclear arsenal, the U.S. has not changed its policy on the use of nuclear weapons, which means it hasn't ruled out the option of using such weapons when in face of a non-nuclear attack. That will seriously damage the mutual trust among major countries, stoke a nuclear arms race and confrontation, stimulate nuclear proliferation, and gravely undermine international and regional peace and stability.
Chinese foreign ministry refuted the three newly released reports, especially the Nuclear Posture Review. Its spokesperson Wang Wenbin said what's behind the U.S. policy is its hegemonic logic of seeking absolute military superiority.
America's Persistence On "Military Hegemony" Will Only Lead To Debt, Enemies
Troubled by the syndrome of the pandemic, economic decline, and many other problems, America's persistence in military hegemonism will only lead it to a quandary of being debt-ridden at home and surrounded by enemies everywhere abroad, said Teng, adding that the strategies it proposed will hardly get to the ground due to the lack of supportive measures, including financial support. The international community should keep a close eye on America's policy adjustment regarding military expansion and war preparedness and respond with prudence and caution.
[1] Eng.chinamil.com.cn/view/2022-11/02/content_10196632.htm, November 2, 2022.
