China to Deploy Nuclear Subs in Response to US Weapons Threat

The Chinese government will deploy nuclear armed submarines into the Pacific Ocean amid growing tensions over U.S. plans to launch a new weapons systems in the region, The Guardian reported on Thursday.

Citing military sources in Beijing, the Guardian newspaper says a Chinese nuclear deterrent in the maritime region is “inevitable” due to the ongoing territorial feud in the South China Sea, which has prompted U.S. naval exercises in the Pacific waters.

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This was also confirmed by the Pentagon's annual report on Chinese military developments, dated May 18, which stated, "China will probably conduct its first SSBN (nuclear missile submarines) nuclear deterrence patrol sometime in 2016."

The Chinese military has also confirmed the patrol, which is said to be the first. The timing remains unconfirmed.

The United States has called on an immediate end to island-building by China on coral reefs in the Spratly Islands of the South China sea.

The area is believed to have gas and oil deposits. Beijing has repeatedly insisted its activities in the Spratlys are within its sovereign rights.

The news takes place as a recent warning was issued earlier this month by the Union of Concerned Scientists, which highlighted the increasing risk of nuclear war between the United States and China.

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The report titled “The Risk of Nuclear War with China: A Troubling Lack of Urgency” noted that ongoing territorial tensions in the South China Sea and policies toward Taiwan have prompted the two governments to expand their nuclear arsenals, which could precipitate an “inadvertent or accidental nuclear war.”

However, United States and Chinese officials see the risk of nuclear use differently. The report argued: "US officials believe that if a military conflict starts, nuclear weapons may be needed to stop it — but Chinese officials assume no nation would ever invite nuclear retaliation by using nuclear weapons first," the report stated.