Chinese Nuclear Forces General to Visit US

Chinese General Jing Zhiyuan, commander of China's 2nd Artillery Corps, (nuclear rocket forces), has accepted an invitation to visit the United States Strategic Command (STRATCOM) in Nebraska, in a small but significant breakthrough for U.S. efforts to improve military relations with China, reports Stars and Stripes.

Last week, US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates was allowed to visit the facilities of the People's Liberation Army Second Artillery Corps (SAC), which controls China’s nuclear missiles. China's total nuclear arsenal size is estimated to be about 240 nuclear weapons in total, with about 180 of them actively deployed. The SAC comprises approximately 90,000-120,000 personnel and six ballistic missile brigades, [video].

Longer-term confidence building and cooperative progress between Chinese and American military establishments could create an environment for agreements on space weapon limitations and cooperation in space activities.