China, Russia Increase War Preparations In Response to Anglo-American War Threat

November 3, 2013 • 7:13AM

Both China and Russia, in their own ways, have been engaged in upgrading both their conventional and strategic nuclear forces to be ready for war as a component of their resistance to the Anglo-American Imperium. Nor are the two countries conducting their preparations in isolation from each other, as the meeting between Russian president Vladimir Putin and Vice Chairman of China's Central Military Commission Xu Qiliang on Oct. 31 underscores. Putin indicated, according to Xinhua, that military cooperation plays a pivotal role in the strategic partnership between Russia and China, and he expressed the hope that the two defense ministries could improve their coordination to further bilateral ties in the future. Xu replied that the China-Russia strategic cooperation has entered a new phase because of the efforts of both countries. Xu added that China is willing to deepen the military exchange and expand cooperation with Russia to boost bilateral ties to a new high.

The week began with China, for the first time, going public about its strategic nuclear missile submarines on Oct. 28, when a slew of articles began appearing in the Chinese media. The People's Daily, on Oct. 31, quoted Chinese military expert Yin Zhuo characterizing China's strategic missile forces as components of a "counter attack strategy." That is, "Only when our opponents use nuclear weapons to attack us, will we use nuclear weapons to counterattack them." While China, like Russia and the U.S., operates a nuclear triad, the strategic missile submarines are considered the most important leg, because their chances of survival should a conflict break out, is in the realm of 85 to 90%, compared to no more than 50% to as little as 5% from the land-based missile and bomber forces.

The Chinese were also clear as to whom they are deterring, as a Global Times article on Oct. 28 made the point. A Chinese nuclear attack on the U.S. would mainly target population centers. Submarine-launched missiles fired from the Pacific would mainly be aimed at West Coast cities, while the land-based DF-31 ICBMs, fired over the North Pole would mainly be aimed at major East Coast cities. The message in such statements is clear.

The Russians, meanwhile, have been conducting their own preparations as well. This week, President Putin ordered a no-notice snap exercise of the strategic missile and submarine forces combined with an air and missile defense exercise on the Kapustin Yar testing range. Two ICBMs and two submarine-launched missiles were live-fired, as were about 15 S-300 and S-400 air defense missiles, during the exercise, which was overseen by President Putin, himself. Putin has ordered at least four such no-notice snap drills, this year, and both he and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu have indicated that there will be more. The purpose of the drills is to test the war readiness of Russian forces.

While the strategic forces exercise was going on, two TU-160 nuclear bombers have been operating in South America. They arrived in Venezuela on Oct. 28, after a 13-hour flight from their base in the Volga region. On Oct. 30, they landed in Nicaragua. "The crews are now resting and preparing for new missions. They are scheduled to carry out several patrols over the region," Commander of the Russian Long-Range Aviation, Lt. Gen. Anatoly Zhikharev, reported at a Defense Ministry meeting on Oct. 31.