China and weapons of mass destruction The People ' s Republic of China has developed and possessed weapons of mass destruction , including chemical and nuclear weapons . China ' s first nuclear test took place in 1964 and first hydrogen bomb test occurred in 1967 . Tests continued until 1996 when it signed the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty ( CTBT ) . China has acceded to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention ( BWC ) in 1984 and ratified the Chemical Weapons Convention ( CWC ) in 1997 . The number of nuclear warheads in China ' s arsenal is a state secret and is therefore unknown . There are varying estimates of the size of China ' s arsenal . A 2011 Georgetown University study estimated that China has as many as 3 , 000 warheads hidden in underground tunnels , whereas China is estimated by the Federation of American Scientists to have an arsenal of about 180 active nuclear weapon warheads and 240 total warheads as of 2009 , which would make it the second smallest nuclear arsenal amongst the five nuclear weapon states acknowledged by the Treaty on the Non - Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons . According to some estimates , the country could " more than double " the " number of warheads on missiles that could threaten the United States by the mid - 2020s " . Early in 2011 , China published a defense white paper , which repeated its nuclear policies of maintaining a minimum deterrent with a no - first - use pledge . Yet China has yet to define what it means by a " minimum deterrent posture " . This , together with the fact that " it is deploying four new nuclear - capable ballistic missiles , invites concern as to the scale and intention of China ’ s nuclear upgrade " . Chemical weapons . China signed the Chemical Weapons Convention ( CWC ) on January 13 , 1993 . The CWC was ratified April 25 , 1997 . In the official declaration submitted to OPCW Chinese government has declared that it had possessed small arsenal of chemical weapons in the past but that it had destroyed it before ratifying Convention . It has declared only three former chemical production facilities that may have produced mustard gas , phosgene and Lewisite . China was found to have supplied Albania with a small stockpile of chemical weapons in the 1970s during the Cold War . Biological weapons . China is currently a signatory of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention and Chinese officials have stated that China has never engaged in biological activities with offensive military applications . However , China was reported to have had an active biological weapons program in the 1980s . Kanatjan Alibekov , former director of one of the Soviet germ - warfare programs , said that China suffered a serious accident at one of its biological weapons plants in the late 1980s . Alibekov asserted that Soviet reconnaissance satellites identified a biological weapons laboratory and plant near a site for testing nuclear warheads . The Soviets suspected that two separate epidemics of hemorrhagic fever that swept the region in the late 1980s were caused by an accident in a lab where Chinese scientists were weaponizing viral diseases . US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright expressed her concerns over possible Chinese biological weapon transfers to Iran and other nations in a letter to Senator Robert E . Bennett ( R - Utah ) in January 1997 . Albright stated that she had received reports regarding transfers of dual - use items from Chinese entities to the Iranian government which concerned her and that the United States had to encourage China to adopt comprehensive export controls to prevent assistance to Iran ' s alleged biological weapons program . The United States acted upon the allegations on January 16 , 2002 , when it imposed sanctions on three Chinese firms accused of supplying Iran with materials used in the manufacture of chemical and biological weapons . In response to this , China issued export control protocols on dual use biological technology in late 2002 . Nuclear weapons . History . Mao Zedong decided to begin a Chinese nuclear - weapons program during the First Taiwan Strait Crisis of 1954 - 1955 over the Quemoy and Matsu Islands . While he did not expect to be able to match the large American nuclear arsenal , Mao believed that even a few bombs would increase China ' s diplomatic credibility . Construction of uranium enrichment plants in Baotou and Lanzhou began in 1958 , and a plutonium facility in Jiuquan and the Lop Nur nuclear test site by 1960 . The Soviet Union provided assistance in the early Chinese program by sending advisers to help in the facilities devoted to fissile material production , and in October 1957 agreed to provide a prototype bomb , missiles , and related technology . The Chinese , who preferred to import technology and components to developing them within China , exported uranium to the Soviet Union , and the Soviets sent two R - 2 missiles in 1958 . That year , however , Soviet leader Nikita Khruschev told Mao that he planned to discuss arms control with the United States and Britain . China was already opposed to Khruschev ' s post - Stalin policy of " peaceful coexistence " . Although Soviet officials assured China that it was under the Soviet nuclear umbrella , the disagreements widened the emerging Sino - Soviet split . In June 1959 the two nations formally ended their agreement on military and technology cooperation , and in July 1960 all Soviet assistance with the Chinese nuclear program was abruptly terminated and all Soviet technicians were withdrawn from the program . The American government under and Lyndon B . Johnson was concerned about the program and studied ways to sabotage or attack it , perhaps with the aid of Taiwan or the Soviet Union , but Khruschev did not display interest . The first Chinese nuclear test , code - named 596 , occurred on 16 October 1964 . The Chinese acknowledged that their nuclear program would have been impossible to complete without the Soviet help . China ' s first test of a nuclear device took place on October 16 , 1964 , at the Lop Nur test site . China ' s last nuclear test was on July 29 , 1996 . According to the Australian Geological Survey Organization in Canberra , the yield of the 1996 test was 1 - 5 kilotons . This was China ' s 22nd underground test and 45th test overall . Size . China has made significant improvements in its miniaturization techniques since the 1980s . There have been accusations , notably by the Cox Commission , that this was done primarily by covertly acquiring the U . S . ' s W88 nuclear warhead design as well as guided ballistic missile technology . Chinese scientists have stated that they have made advances in these areas , but insist that these advances were made without espionage . The international community has debated the size of the Chinese nuclear force since the nation first acquired such technology . Because of strict secrecy it is very difficult to determine the exact size and composition of China ' s nuclear forces . Estimates vary over time . Several declassified U . S . government reports give historical estimates . The 1984 Defense Intelligence Agency ' s Defense Estimative Brief estimates the Chinese nuclear stockpile as consisting of between 150 and 160 warheads . A 1993 United States National Security Council report estimated that China ' s nuclear deterrent force relied on 60 to 70 nuclear armed ballistic missiles . The Defense Intelligence Agency ' s " The Decades Ahead : 1999 - 2020 " report estimates the 1999 Nuclear Weapons ' Inventory as between 140 and 157 . In 2004 the U . S . Department of Defense assessed that China had about 20 intercontinental ballistic missile s capable of targeting the United States . In 2006 a U . S . Defense Intelligence Agency estimate presented to the Senate Armed Services Committee was that " China currently has more than 100 nuclear warheads . " A variety of estimates abound regarding China ' s current stockpile . Although the total number of nuclear weapons in the Chinese arsenal is unknown , estimates vary from as low as 80 to as high as 2 , 000 . The 2 , 000 - warhead estimate has largely been rejected by diplomats in the field . It appears to have been derived from a 1990 ' s - era Usenet post , in which a Singaporean college student made unsubstantiated statements concerning a supposed 2 , 000 warhead stockpile . In 2004 , China stated that " among the nuclear - weapon states , China . . . possesses the smallest nuclear arsenal , " implying China has fewer than the United Kingdom ' s 200 nuclear weapons . Several non - official sources estimate that China has around 400 nuclear warheads . However , U . S . intelligence estimates suggest a much smaller nuclear force than many non - governmental organizations . In 2011 , high estimates of the Chinese nuclear arsenal again emerged . One three year study by Georgetown University raised the possibility that China had 3 000 nuclear weapons , hidden in a sophisticated tunnel network . The study was based on state media footage showing tunnel entrances , and estimated a 4 800 km ( 3 000 mile ) network . The tunnel network was revealed after the 2008 Sichuan earthquake collapsed tunnels in the hills . China has confirmed the existing of the tunnel network . In response , the US military was ordered by law to study the possibility of this tunnel network concealing a nuclear arsenal . However , the tunnel theory has come under substantial attack due to several apparent flaws in its reasoning . From a production standpoint , China probably does not have enough fissile material to produce 3 , 000 nuclear weapons . Such an arsenal would require 9 - 12 tons of Plutonium as well as 45 - 75 tons of Enriched uranium and a substantial amount of Tritium . The Chinese are estimated to have only 2 tons of weapons grade plutonium , which limits their arsenal to 450 - 600 weapons , despite a 16 ton disposable supply of uranium , theoretically enough for 1 , 000 warheads . Additionally , the PRC ' s supply of Tritium limits its stockpile to around 300 weapons . In 2012 , A retired Russian officer , Viktor Yesin , stated that the Chinese arsenal was at 1 , 800 nuclear weapons . Yesin ' s statements , however , have incited backlash . His claims may have originated from the same Usenet post that previous dubious assertions of 2 , 000 or more nuclear warheads stemmed from . As of 2011 , the Chinese nuclear arsenal was estimated to contain 55 - 65 ICBM ' s . In 2012 , STRATCOM commander C . Robert Kehler said that the best estimates where " in the range of several hundred " warheads and FAS estimated the current total to be " approximately 240 warheads " . The U . S . Department of Defense 2013 report to Congress on China ' s military developments stated that the Chinese nuclear arsenal consists of 50 - 75 ICBM ' s , located in both land - based silo ' s and Ballistic missile submarine platforms . In addition to the ICBM ' s , the report stated that China has approximately 1 , 100 Short - range ballistic missile s , although it does not have the warhead capacity to equip them all with nuclear weapons . Nuclear policy . China is one of the five nuclear weapons states ( NWS ) recognized by the Nuclear Non - Proliferation Treaty , which China ratified in 1992 . China is the only NWS to give an unqualified security assurance to non - nuclear - weapon states : Chinese public policy has always been one of the " no first use rule " while maintaining a deterrent retaliatory force targeted for countervalue targets . In 2005 , the Chinese Foreign Ministry released a white paper stating that the government " would not be the first to use [ nuclear ] weapons at any time and in any circumstance " . In addition , the paper went on to state that this " no first use " policy would remain unchanged in the future and that China would not use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against any non - nuclear - weapon states or nuclear - weapon - free zones . Historically , China has been implicated in the development of the Pakistani nuclear program . In the early 1980s , China is believed to have given Pakistan a " package " including uranium enrichment technology , high - enriched uranium , and the design for a compact nuclear weapon . Delivery Systems Estimates . 2010 IISS Military Balance . The following are estimates of China ' s strategic missile forces from the International Institute of Strategic Studies " Military Balance 2010 " . According to these estimates , China has up to 90 inter - continental range ballistic missiles ( 66 land - based ICBMs and 24 submarine - based JL - 2 SLBMs ) , not counting MIRV warheads . 2010 DoD annual PRC military report . The following are estimates from the United States Department of Defense 2010 report to Congress concerning the " Military Power of the People ' s Republic of China " 2006 FAS & NRDC report . The following table is an overview of PRC nuclear forces taken from a November 2006 report by Hans M . Kristensen , Robert S . Norris , and Matthew G . McKinzie of the Federation of American Scientists and the Natural Resources Defense Council titled " Chinese Nuclear Forces and U . S . Nuclear War Planning " . Situation in 2013 . After increasing under Bush , the number of Chinese nuclear armed missiles capable of reaching North America leveled off under Obama with delays in bringing forth new capabilities such as MIRV and operational sub launched missiles . The U . S . DOD 2013 report to Congress continued to state that China had 50 - 75 ICBM ' s . However the United States - China Economic and Security Review Commission stated that it was possible for China to finally have an operational Submarine - launched ballistic missile capability by the end of the year . Land - based intercontinental ballistic missiles . Although unconfirmed , most Western analysts believe China has deployed anywhere from 18 to 36 Dongfeng 5 ( " East Wind " ) intercontinental ballistic missiles ( ICBM ) since the 1980s . The Dongfeng 5A is a single - warhead , three - stage , liquid - fueled missile with a range of 13 , 000 + km . In 2000 , General Eugene Habiger of the U . S . Air Force , then - commander of the U . S . Strategic Command , testified before Congress that China has 18 silo - based DF - 5s . Since the early 21st century , the Second Artillery Corps have also deployed up to 10 Solid - fueled mobile DF - 31 ICBMs , with a range of 7 , 200 + km and possibly up to 3 MIRV s . China has also developed the DF - 31A , an intercontinental ballistic missile with a range of 11 , 200 + km with possibly 3 - 6 multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle ( MIRV ) capability . China stores many of its missiles in huge underground tunnel complexes ; US Representative Michael Turner referring to 2009 Chinese media reports said “ This network of tunnels could be in excess of 5 , 000 kilometers ( 3 , 110 miles ) , and is used to transport nuclear weapons and forces , ” , the Chinese Army newsletter calls this tunnel system an underground Great Wall of China . Medium range ballistic missiles . Approximately 55 % of China ' s missiles are in the medium range category , targeted at regional theater targets . Tactical cruise missiles . The CJ - 10 long - range cruise missile made its first public appearance during the military parade on the 60th Anniversary of the People ' s Republic of China as a part of the Second Artillery Corps ' long range conventional missile forces ; the CJ - 10 represents the next generation in rocket weapons technology in the PLA . A similar naval cruise missile , the YJ - 62 , was also revealed during the parade ; the YJ - 62 serves as the People ' s Liberation Army Navy ' s latest development into naval rocketry . Long range ballistic missiles . The Chinese categorize long - range ballistic missiles as ones with a range between 3000 and 8000 km . DF - 4 / CSS - 3 . The Dong Feng 4 or DF - 4 ( also known as the CSS - 3 ) is a long - range two - stage Chinese intermediate - range ballistic missile with liquid fuel ( nitric acid / UDMH ) . It was thought to be deployed in limited numbers in underground silos beginning in 1980 . The DF - 4 has a takeoff thrust of 1 , 224 . 00 kN , a takeoff weight of 82000 kg , a diameter of 2 . 25 m , a length of 28 . 05 m , and a fin span of 2 . 74 m . It is equipped with a 2190 kg nuclear warhead with 3300 kt explosive yield , and its range is 5 , 500 km . The missile uses inertial guidance , resulting in a relatively poor CEP of 1 , 500 meters . Intercontinental ballistic missiles ( ICBMs ) . DF - 5A / CSS - 4 Mod 2 . The Dongfeng 5 or DF - 5 is a 3 stage Chinese ICBM . It has a length 32 . 6 m and a diameter of 3 . 35 m . It weighs 183 tonnes and has an estimated range of 12 , 000 – 15 , 000 kilometers . The DF - 5 had its first flight in 1971 and was in operational service 10 years later . One of the downsides of the missile was that it took between 30 and 60 minutes to fuel . DF - 31 / CSS - 10 . The Dong Feng 31 ( a . k . a . CSS - 10 ) is a medium - range , three stage , solid propellant intercontinental ballistic missile developed by the People ' s Republic of China . It is a land - based variant of the submarine - launched JL - 2 . It is operated by the Second Artillery Corps ( SAC ) which is estimated to have 8 - 12 missiles in inventory [ 2 ] . DF - 41 / CSS - X - 10 . The DF - 41 or CSS - X - 10 is an intercontinental ballistic missile developed by China . It can carry up to 10 nuclear warheads , which are maneuverable reentry vehicle s . It has a range of approximately 12 , 000 - 14 , 000 km and can cover any position on the planet . Nuclear cruise missiles . The US DoD estimated in 2006 that the PRC was developing ground - and air - launched cruise missiles that could easily be converted to carry nuclear warheads once developed . DH - 10 . The DongHai 10 ( DH - 10 ) is a cruise missile developed in the People ' s Republic of China . According to Jane ' s Defense Weekly , the DH - 10 is a second - generation land - attack cruise missile ( LACM ) , with over 4 , 000 km range , integrated inertial navigation system , GPS , terrain contour mapping system , and digital scene - matching terminal - homing system . The missile is estimated to have a circular error probable ( CEP ) of 10 meters . CJ - 10 . The ChangJian - 10 ( Long Sword 10 ) is a cruise missile developed by China , based on the Hongniao missile family . It has a range of 2 , 200 km . Although not confirmed , it is suspected that the CJ - 10 could carry nuclear warheads . An air - launched variant ( named CJ - 20 ) has also been developed . HongNiao missile family . There are three missiles in this family : the HN - 1 , HN - 2 , and HN - 3 . Reportedly based on the Kh - SD / 65 missiles , the Hongniao ( or Red Bird ) missiles are some of the first nuclear - capable cruise missiles in China . The HN - 1 has a range of 600 km , the HN - 2 has a range of 1 , 800 km , and the HN - 3 has a range of 3 , 000 km . ChangFeng missile family . There are 2 missiles in the Chang Feng ( or Long Wind ) family : CF - 1 and CF - 2 . These are the first domestically developed long - range cruise missiles for China . The CF - 1 has a range of 400 km while the CF - 2 has a range of 800 km . Both variants can carry a 10 kt nuclear warhead . Sea - based weapons . The submarine - launched ballistic missile ( SLBM ) stockpile of the People ' s Liberation Army Navy ( PLAN ) is thought to be relatively new . China launched its first second - generation nuclear submarine in April 1981 . The navy currently has a 1 Type 092 " Xia " class SSBN at roughly 8000 tons displacement . A second Type 092 was reportedly lost in an accident in 1985 . The Type 092 is equipped with 12 JL - 1 SLBMs with a range of 2150 – 2500 km . The JL - 1 is a modified DF - 21 missile . It is suspected that the Type 092 is being converted into a cruise missile submarine . The Chinese navy has developed Type 094 ballistic missile submarine , open source satellite imagery has shown that at least 2 of these have been completed . This submarine will be capable of carrying 12 of the longer ranged , more modern JL - 2 s with a range of approximately 14000 km . China is also developing the Type 096 submarine , claimed to be able to carry up to 24 JL - 2 ballistic missiles each . Some Chinese sources states that the submarine is already undergoing trials . Also a new nuclear attack submarine is under development , the Type 095 submarine . Heavy bomber group . China ' s bomber force consists mostly of Chinese - made versions of Soviet aircraft . The People ' s Liberation Army Air Force has 120 H - 6 s ( a variant of the Tupolev Tu - 16 ) . These bomber s are outfitted to carry nuclear as well as conventional weapons . While the H - 6 fleet is aging , it is not as old as the American B - 52 Stratofortress . The Chinese have also produced the Xian JH - 7 " Flying Leopard " fighter - bomber with a range and payload exceeding the F - 111 ( currently about 80 are in service ) capable of delivering a nuclear strike . China has also bought the advanced Sukhoi Su - 30 from Russia ; currently , about 100 Su - 30 s ( MKK and MK2 variants ) have been purchased by China . The Su - 30 is capable of carrying tactical nuclear weapon s . China is alleged to be testing rumored new H - 8 and H - 9 strategic bombers which are either described as an upgraded H - 6 or an aircraft in the same class as the US B - 2 , able to carry nuclear weapons . China is also testing the JH - 7B strike fighter , a stealthy variant of the Xian JH - 7 .