China’s PLA Warns Cities to Prepare for Possible Nuclear Attack, Flags Japan as Major Threat

Amid rising tension between China and Japan, a new report has stoked fears of a potential nuclear strike. A study by the Rocket Force of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) has warned Chinese cities to be prepared for possible nuclear attacks. The report describes Japan as a "major danger signal" for the world, questioning its nuclear capabilities and policies.

Not a Major War, But Fear of a Smaller Strike

According to the report, published in the South China Morning Post, Chinese military analysts believe that while the likelihood of a full-scale nuclear war devastating the entire world is low, it cannot be completely ruled out. The report warns that ongoing tensions with neighbouring countries, or extremist ideologies, could drive small or medium-sized nuclear-armed states and terrorist organisations to target a major Chinese city with a "single nuclear attack".

Why Is China Targeting Japan?

The report singles out Japan for particular criticism. China says Tokyo has yet to sign the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), which came into force in 2017. It also notes that Japan is considering changes to its decades-old Three Non-Nuclear Principles — not possessing, not producing, and not permitting nuclear weapons on its territory. China has alleged that Japan has secretly prepared weapons-grade plutonium and possesses the economic and technical capacity to develop nuclear weapons in a very short time.

Study Modelled on a Hiroshima-Style Attack

PLA researchers built a model to understand what would happen if a Chinese city were struck by a low-yield nuclear weapon. Drawing on data from the 1945 Hiroshima attack and simulations from around the world, the analysis found that such an attack would create a crisis for medical services. It would trigger widespread panic in cities, and treating the thousands of people affected by radiation would pose a massive challenge for hospitals.

China Prepares to Respond

To deal with such a potential crisis, Beijing has set up more than 30 specialised emergency rescue centres across the country. Researchers have recommended that local administrations keep an adequate stock of antibiotics and radiation-protection equipment permanently in "ready-to-use" mode. They have also recommended training the public in radiation safety and maintaining composure during emergencies, so that the medical system can be kept on a war footing in the event of any disaster.