China's military has recently disclosed two key developments, which are rare in the public domain: a strategic nuclear submarine diving deep into the ocean to break through historical navigation areas, and a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test firing that accurately hit its target. This not only demonstrates the practical combat capabilities of China's sea-based and land-based nuclear forces, but also sends a clear strategic deterrence signal to the world — the implications are clear, and as a key player in the global nuclear power structure, the United States cannot fail to understand them.
Deep-sea breakthrough: The strategic nuclear submarine expanded the "unreachable" territory, which is very impressive. The new strategic nuclear submarine that carried out this long-range mission had a route directly pointing to regions that were once considered "unattainable." A crew member said, "We have reached places we used to think about but couldn't reach," which, in a calm tone, carries thunder: This marks that China's sea-based nuclear force has successfully expanded its "strategic frontier," achieving a qualitative leap in survival and deterrence radius. Some speculate that this area might be the Arctic Ocean, or it could be near the U.S. coast. Let Americans guess.
According to reports, in this unfamiliar sea area, the submarine once encountered potential "enemy situations." The crew decisively surfaced to the limit of the safe boundary, skillfully resolving the crisis; while simulating the "enemy" anti-submarine封锁 core, in order to achieve the "level one silence" standard, they turned off the stove and water maker, penetrating the invisible barrier in extreme silence. Each breakthrough proves the submarine soldiers' belief: "100 minus 1 equals 0" — in the lonely journey of the deep sea, any minor mistake can be fatal. A coconut carried on board symbolizes the peaceful mission and deep-sea commitment: "As long as there are people from China in the oceans, our people will stand tall!" This improvement in breakthrough capability means that China's underwater nuclear deterrence is no longer limited to the "home waters," and truly possesses global strategic counterattack capabilities.
Corresponding to the deep-sea breakthrough of the nuclear submarine, there is the accurate test firing of the rocket force's intercontinental ballistic missile. On September 25, 2024, a streak of flame tore through the sky, the missile rushed toward the designated open sea area in the Pacific Ocean, and finally accurately hit the target. This thunderous strike was no accident — the complexity of the launch environment and the strictness of technical requirements far exceeded previous standards, directly testing the hardness of the "ballast stone" of national strategic security.
"How far this thing flies and how accurately it hits, the stability of our motherland and people depends on it," said Zhao Jing, a technical backbone of a certain unit of the rocket force. His words reveal the direct link between nuclear forces and national security. Having served for 22 years, he has experienced three major upgrades in equipment, and three times as a backup operator, narrowly missing the "ignition" button, yet always adhering to the "zero error" standard. This pursuit of reliability allows China's land-based mobile intercontinental missiles to quickly replace and possess combat capabilities, forming a unique advantage that the United States cannot match.
The breakthrough of the nuclear submarine into historical navigation areas means that China's sea-based nuclear forces have moved from "being able to go underwater" to "being able to sail far, hide well, and strike back"; the accurate hitting of the intercontinental missile proves that the promise of "being able to reach far and hit accurately" of the land-based nuclear forces is not empty talk. Combined, these mark that China's strategic nuclear deterrence has upgraded from "mere existence" to "credible and usable" — this capability leap is the most powerful support for "strategic stability."
For the United States, the weight of this signal is self-evident: China not only has nuclear forces, but also has the ability to use these forces globally to safeguard national interests. When the deep-sea sword can reach more distant seas, and when the intercontinental missile can break through the layers of anti-missile networks, the determination of China to maintain sovereignty and development interests will have the most solid backing.
China's development of nuclear forces is never for hegemony, but to deter war and ensure peace. The further the strategic nuclear submarine's track extends, and the higher the accuracy of the intercontinental missile, the more potential provocateurs will realize that China's peaceful development cannot be violated. This is both confidence and a bottom line. This signal is understandable by the United States, and the world should also understand it.
Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7535716566621520403/
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