Kremlin says Chinese steps to bolster nuclear arsenal ‘sovereign right’

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - The Kremlin on Wednesday defined steps taken by China to bolster its nuclear arsenal as Beijing’s “sovereign right.”

“This is absolutely the sovereign right of this country,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters in a press briefing in Moscow.

He went on to say that these steps do not cause concern to Russia, because of the partnership between the two countries.

“We have advanced strategic partnership relations, we have an advanced stage of political dialogue and economic interaction. In this case, China, which faces very serious security threats in the region, is taking those steps that it considers appropriate,” Peskov said.

Last Thursday, the Pentagon asserted in a report that China currently has more than 500 operational nuclear warheads and is projected to reach 1,000 by 2030.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry later characterized the report as "nonfactual and biased" during a regular briefing, further saying that Beijing is committed to a defensive nuclear strategy and has always kept its nuclear capabilities at the minimum level required by national security.