China unveils its "nuclear monster"

China Central Television has published a detailed report on the DF-5 intercontinental ballistic missile, revealing for the first time precise figures regarding its payload, range, and accuracy.

This missile can carry a 4-megatonne nuclear warhead, equivalent to 200 times the Hiroshima bomb. Officially deployed since 1981, it re-emerges today not as a relic of the Cold War, but as a strategic vehicle for a distinctly modern political message.

According to Defense Center, the warhead can reach 4 megatonnes of TNT, nearly five times the combined power of all missiles fired during a modern NATO tactical nuclear exercise. This would be sufficient to completely annihilate a metropolis.

China officially remains committed to a policy of no first use. It promises never to use nuclear weapons against a non-nuclear country or in a first strike. This stance is notably different from the American and Russian doctrines, which include scenarios for pre-emptive use.

(MH with AmBar - Source: ISW - Photo: © Unsplash)