China’s Nuclear Warhead Storage and Handling System

By: Mark Stokes |

China maintains its operational nuclear warhead stockpile through a centralized storage and handling system managed by the People’s Liberation Army’s Second Artillery.  A preliminary examination indicates that Beijing adopts a responsible and serious attitude with regards to nuclear security and safety.  Yet, an expanding ballistic missile infrastructure in the absence of significant growth in their nuclear warhead stockpile could indicate an extension of Second Artillery’s conventional strike mission.