See “The Hill” article below for image description and photo credits. ~llaw

On My Mind Today:

This article begs the question about what Trump’s definition of both “Nuclear Demilitarization” or “Nuclear Disarmament” means and rightly so because there is no clear meaning at all of what he may be saying when he speaks of it . . .

Is he talking about reducing the number of nuclear weapons? That is ridiculous because the physical number of bombs is not a matter of what nuclear weapons of mass destruction means. One bomb today can be several times more destructive than those during the Cold War. But, still, any talk of nuclear demilitarization still bases such discussions on the number of nuclear weapons each nation has. This is ridiculous because it has nothing to do with the “total” tons of TNT. If we are that far behind in any effort to create a “safe” nuclear world the effort is useless.

So China is right to “just say no”. At least for now . . .

True nuclear disarmament and demilitarization, as I would define it, would mean ridding ourselves of “all things nuclear” including, of course, nuclear power reactors, plants, and facilities — which are also subject to war as we define it, but also subject to terrorism and other dangerous black-market “enterprises” — as well as saying goodbye to every nuclear bomb, big or little. Until we do that there is no such thing as nuclear disarmament or demilitarization, meaning that we are simply lying to ourselves.

So it is that Trump, as usual, is up in the night with visions of his “kingly” world power dancing in his dreams. ~llaw

The views expressed by contributors are their own and not the view of The Hill

China flips the script on nuclear arms control

by Gordon G. Chang, opinion contributor – 09/12/25 11:30 AM ET

On Aug. 27, Beijing rejected out-of-hand President Trump’s call for denuclearization talks with China and Russia.

It’s not hard to figure out why China is in no mood to talk about the world’s most destructive weapons. Alone among the major powers, Beijing is fast increasing its stockpile of them.

“I think the denuclearization is a very — it’s a big aim,” Trump told reporters at the White House. “But Russia’s willing to do it, and I think China is going to be willing to do it too.”

“We can’t let nuclear weapons proliferate,” he added. “We have to stop nuclear weapons. The power is too great.”

It’s not clear what Trump meant by “denuclearization” — complete disarmament or merely a reduction in the number of weapons — but his comments indicate he is following in the footsteps of Ronald Reagan, who wanted to completely abolish nukes.

Tulsi Gabbard, Trump’s director of national intelligence, also favors disarmament, as her comments in a three-minute video posted in early June suggest.

Denuclearization might have crossed Trump’s mind now because America’s last nuclear arms-control agreement with Russia will expire soon.

New START, which limits the number of warheads each side may deploy, came into force in 2011 and was extended in 2021. It is scheduled to terminate in February.

Termination may not have much of a practical impact, however. Moscow, after all, is violating New START’s terms by not permitting regular inspections. In February 2023, Vladimir Putin announced he was suspending participation in the treaty.

Getting Russia to the negotiating table may or may not be an easy lift, but enticing the Chinese to talk will certainly be much more difficult.

“It is neither reasonable nor realistic to ask China to join the nuclear disarmament negotiations with the U.S. and Russia,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun at his regular press briefing.

“The country sitting on the world’s biggest nuclear arsenal,” Guo said, is primarily responsible for disarmament and should take actions including “drastic and substantive cuts to its nuclear arsenal” and “[creating] conditions” for global nuclear disarmament.

Guo was likely referring to the U.S., but Russia, in fact, maintains the world’s largest arsenal of nuclear weapons.

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute estimates that last year Russia maintained 4,380 deployed weapons. The U.S., the institute believes, possessed 3,708 warheads while China had 500, up from 410 in 2023.

China has never publicly confirmed it number of nukes, and there is no consensus as to the current size of its arsenal. Almost all observers, however, agree that it is building warheads fast. The Pentagon in a November 2022 report forecast that China would quadruple warheads from about 400 to 1,500 by 2035.

Nuclear analyst James Howe predicts China will have between 3,390 to 3,740 weapons by 2035.

Richard Fisher of the International Assessment and Strategy Center looks at the rapid increase in delivery platforms, such as missiles and subs, and thinks China will have even more. He told me his 2035 estimate: 7,000.

“I don’t think I’ve seen anything more disturbing in my career than the Chinese ongoing expansion of their nuclear force,” said Frank Kendall when he was secretary of the Air Force in House testimony in March 2023.

Adm. Charles Richard, as commander of U.S. Strategic Command in 2021, said: “We are witnessing a strategic breakout by China.”

“For decades, they were quite comfortable with an arsenal of a few hundred nuclear weapons, which was fairly clearly a second-strike capability to act as a deterrent,” Kendall testified, referring to China.

“That expansion that they’re undertaking puts us into a new world that we’ve never lived in before, where you have three powers — three great powers, essentially — with large arsenals of nuclear weapons.”

With its rapid buildup, China is apparently looking for a war-fighting capability. Its increased nuclear weapons capacity means its threats to launch first strikes would be credible and Beijing would thus be able to intimidate adversaries into not defending, say, Taiwan.

“The breakneck growth in China’s nuclear weapons tells us Xi and his [Chinese Communist Party] comrades see nuclear weapons as instruments of coercion and terror to use in furthering China’s hegemonic ambitions,” Peter Huessy of the National Institute for Deterrence Studies told me this month.

China’s rejection of negotiations could also be a sign of weakness.

“The [Chinese Communist Party] pushback on denuclearization talks could be easily misread as Chinese assertiveness or Xi Jinping’s ‘Wolf Warrior’ diplomacy,” Blaine Holt, retired Air Force general and military analyst, wrote to me after the Chinese foreign ministry statement.

“In actuality, avoiding the topic altogether and shunning dialogue betrays a Communist Party and People’s Liberation Army mired in crisis. No one in Beijing feels they can discuss this.”

Whether China is weak or strong — that debate continues — the Chinese leadership has decided it will not talk nukes with the United States.

During the Cold War, the U.S. did not have to consider China’s arsenal when negotiating arms control with the Soviet Union. Now, in light of the rapid buildup in China, the U.S. cannot prudently come to any agreement with Russia about nuclear weapons if the Chinese are not a party.

Beijing has essentially taken both disarmament and arms control off the table.

Gordon G. Chang is the author of “Plan Red: China’s Project to Destroy America” and “The Coming Collapse of China.”

ABOUT THE FOLLOWING ACCESS TO “LLAW’s All Nuclear Daily Digest” RELATED MEDIA”:

There are 7 categories, including a bonus non-nuclear category for news about the Yellowstone caldera and other volcanic and caldera activity around the world that also play an important role in the survival of human and other life.

The feature categories provide articles and information about ‘all things nuclear’ for you to pick from, usually with up to 3 links with headlines concerning the most important media stories in each category, but sometimes fewer and occasionally even none (especially so with the Yellowstone Caldera). The Categories are listed below in their usual order:

1. All Things Nuclear
2. Nuclear Power
3. Nuclear Power Emergencies
4. Nuclear War Threats
5. Nuclear War
6. Yellowstone Caldera (Note: There are three Yellowstone Caldera bonus stories available in today’s Post.)
7. IAEA News (Friday’s only)

A current Digest of major nuclear media headlines with automated links is listed below by nuclear Category (in the above listed order). If a Category heading does not appear in the daily news Digest, it means there was no news reported from this Category today. Generally, the three best articles in each Category from around the nuclear world(s) are Posted. Occasionally, if a Post is important enough, it may be listed in multiple Categories.

TODAY’S ALL NUCLEAR WORLD’s NEWS, Saturday, (09/13/2025)

All Things Nuclear

NEWS

Chris Wright: nuclear fusion will soon power the world – BBC News

BBC

“There are a lot of rumours about all sorts of terrible things happening,” said Mr Wright, who claimed the US government is trying to restore “real …

Peace vigil outside of the White House is targeted to be ‘dismantled’ – Texas Public Radio

Texas Public Radio

… nuclear disarmament and the end of global conflict. It has been staffed 24 … Jordan-Marie Smith is a producer with NPR’s All Things Considered.

Has the Risk of Nuclear War Been Normalized? – KQED

KQED

We talk about the anti-nuclear movement, the normalization of … All Things Considered. 5:00 PM – 6:30 PMAll Things Considered. Since its …

Nuclear Power

NEWS

Nuclear renaissance has ‘more momentum’ than ever to power AI – Yahoo Finance

Yahoo Finance

Nuclear energy is poised to be the biggest contributor to powering the AI revolution. ClearView Energy Partners, LLC managing director Timothy Fox …

Could Indian Point nuclear power plant Be restarted? – News 12 – Westchester

News 12 – Westchester

With inflation climbing and energy prices surging, a once-closed power source is back in the spotlight: the Indian Point nuclear power plant. More ..

Proposed nuclear power plant clears crucial hurdle: ‘It took 12 years’ – The Cool Down

The Cool Down

The Tomari Nuclear Power Station in Hokkaido may be restarted if local officials can come to an agreement.

Nuclear Power Emergencies

NEWS

US electric grids under pressure from energy-hungry data centers are changing strategy

AP News

… energy-hungry data centers off grids during power emergencies … Court rules Europe can call nuclear and natural gas sustainable investments …

Big Tech’s energy-hungry data centers could be bumped off grids during power emergencies

Caledonian Record

As Big Tech’s data centers continue to grow threatening to overload U.S. electricity grids, policymakers are considering bumping the energy-hungry …

Parl. National Security Commission to hold emergency meeting :: nournews

nournews.ir

Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on Tuesday they had reached a new agreement on potential resumption of cooperation, which …

Nuclear War Threats

NEWS

What Is America’s Nuclear Doctrine? – The National Interest

The National Interest

Nuclear war is one of the world’s most pressing existential threats, and perhaps the most immediate extinction-level threat posed to humankind.

“Nuclear rattling” canceled: Russia and Belarus abandoned nuclear threats at “Zapad-2025 …

unn.ua

“Nuclear rattling” canceled: Russia and Belarus abandoned nuclear threats at “Zapad-2025” exercises – ISW. Kyiv • UNN. September 12 2025, 07:59 PM …

Nuclear war: Can you afford to survive? Here’s how much private bunkers cost across Europe

Yahoo News Singapore

The promise is protection against nuclear, biological and chemical threats. Advertisement. Advertisement. Advertisement. Key features include a …

Nuclear War

NEWS

Putin’s forces practicing nuclear weapons use plan as NATO tensions soar – Newsweek

Newsweek

For years, many European countries have feared that Russia’s war would extend beyond Ukraine, and the drone incident has further stoked those. Russia …

China flips the script on nuclear arms control – The Hill

The Hill

… War II, in Tiananmen Square on September 3, 2025, in Beijing, China … nuclear arsenal” and “[creating] conditions” for global nuclear disarmament.

Has the Risk of Nuclear War Been Normalized? – KQED

KQED

We talk about the anti-nuclear movement, the normalization of nuclear warfare, and what some experts hope to change about that.

Yellowstone Caldera

NEWS

Swarm of Idaho Earthquakes Near Yellowstone National Park – News Radio 1310 KLIX

News Radio 1310 KLIX

Some people believe that the Yellowstone Caldera is a time bomb that is just a few earthquakes away from exploding. When that happens, it could be …

There’s Volcanic Unrest At The Campi Flegrei Caldera – Here’s What We Know

IFLScience

Unlike your typical cone-shaped mountain volcano, the caldera … Accelerated Uplift and Magmatic Intrusion of the Yellowstone Caldera, 2004 to 2006. Wu …

Yellowstone National Park Fishing Report 9.11.25 – Montana Outdoor Radio Show

Montana Outdoor Radio Show

Slough should remain fishable, and will be a good option to find fish rising to hatches of Hecuba and Baetis mayflies. Yellowstone River – Caldera …

(See the “Newsweek” article below to read the image description and photos credits ~llaw)

On My Mind Today:

World leaders are continuously “flexing their military muscles” and constantly invoking their crass fabricated lying threats toward one-another about invoking various degrees of nuclear war with whatever country is presently making the loudest most vocal threat from a few days earlier or is perhaps considered the weakest. And it goes on an on and on with no signs of humanity ever coming to our collective senses.

When we should be promoting global peace and unity, instead we never stop berating and accusing our human neighbors of every imaginable contradictory and deplorable way of life other than their own. This bassackwards international attitude has to stop, because if it doesn’t, one day one of these “leaders” is going to attack another with a missile with a nuclear warhead, and that will create mass hysteria that will begin and end with our last war ever on planet Earth, leaving nothing of value for the future for humanity as well as most other innocent species that might survive for awhile.

I am deep into the process of trying honestly and without bias — and even without any kind of personal influence on myself — which country will attack which country and begin the inevitable ending of us all. And there are also countries that could be on the receiving end of a nuclear bomb — Ukraine and Canada for instance — that have to be considered, which makes the attack side of the equation a bit more difficult than simply including the nine nations who possess nuclear weapons of mass destruction.

Hopefully, I will finish and post my prediction(s) here before the real thing actually happens — in which case my research and conclusion don’t make any difference at all llolloll! ~llaw

Today’s Featured Article:

China Breaks Silence After Flexing Nuclear Triad for First Time

Published Sep 11, 2025 at 9:44 AM EDT

China Shows Off Nuclear Missiles At Military Parade

By Micah McCartney

China News Reporter

Beijing has responded to commentary on its recent “Victory Day” military parade, during which it showcased a wide array of weaponry, including its nuclear triad capabilities.

Why It Matters

The September 3 parade commemorated the 80th anniversary of the official end of World War II in the Pacific. It was presided over by Chinese President Xi Jinping and attended by leaders from more than 20 countries, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un.

Analysts viewed the martial display as a signal to the United States and its allies of China’s growing military capabilities and the progress the People’s Liberation Army has made toward Xi’s goal of building a “world-class military” by mid-century.

Newsweek reached out to the Chinese Foreign Ministry by email for comment.

What To Know

In a Wednesday press release, Chinese Ministry of Defense spokesperson Wu Qian said the military hardware on display last week “demonstrated the comprehensive combat capabilities of the PLA in realistic training and exercises.”

He added: “Their appearance shows that our capabilities for defense are improving, but our strategic intention has not changed: We will never seek hegemony, never engage in expansion, never initiate aggression.”

Wu emphasized that the parade “was not targeted at any specific country” and said a strong Chinese military supports peaceful development.

Along with hypersonic missiles, a range of new drone types, cyber warfare systems and a laser weapon, five new types of nuclear-capable systems were showcased during the parade. They included three silo-launched intercontinental ballistic missiles—the DF-5C, DF-31BJ, and DF-61—as well as the air-launched JL-1 ballistic missile, said to have a range of nearly 2,000 miles, and the submarine-launched JL-3.

Read more China

• Stealthy US B-2 Drops Anti-Ship Bomb in Test on Russia’s Doorstep
• US Ally Shows Off New Drone Fleet After China Flexes Muscles
• Satellite Images Appear to Show Construction of New Belarus Military Base
• Russia Reveals Nuclear Submarine Mission in Pacific

Analysts noted that many of the systems on parade remain untested in combat, as China has not been involved in a full-fledged conflict since 1979.

However, the Pentagon is increasingly concerned about China’s expanding missile capabilities—particularly its vast missile fleet, which poses a significant threat to U.S. naval forces in the event of conflict in the region—and its nuclear stockpile.

China is one of only four countries—with the U.S., Russia and India—with a full nuclear triad and ranks third globally in total warheads.

The arsenal is growing rapidly, believed to have reached 600 warheads this year—more than double its 2019 count—according to estimates from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

What People Are Saying

Alexander Neil, Singapore-based security analyst, told Reuters: “For all the operational questions that surround some of these new elements, China was sending a message of technological advance and military strength on all fronts—there is indeed a lot for rival defense planners to get their heads around.”

Ankit Panda, a nuclear policy expert at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, in an analysis of the parade posted to X: “As U.S.-China relations become more difficult, the nuclear dimension of competition between the two countries will grow more important.”

The Chinese Embassy in the U.S. previously told Newsweek: “China abides by the policy of no first use of nuclear weapons under any circumstances and at any time, and commits unconditionally not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon states or nuclear-weapon-free zones.”

The U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence, in its 2025 threat assessment: “China’s nuclear weapons and advanced delivery systems pose a direct threat to the Homeland and are capable of delivering catastrophic damage to the United States and threatening U.S. military forces here and abroad.”

ABOUT THE FOLLOWING ACCESS TO “LLAW’s All Nuclear Daily Digest” RELATED MEDIA”:

There are 7 categories, including a bonus non-nuclear category for news about the Yellowstone caldera and other volcanic and caldera activity around the world that also play an important role in the survival of human and other life.

The feature categories provide articles and information about ‘all things nuclear’ for you to pick from, usually with up to 3 links with headlines concerning the most important media stories in each category, but sometimes fewer and occasionally even none (especially so with the Yellowstone Caldera). The Categories are listed below in their usual order:

1. All Things Nuclear
2. Nuclear Power
3. Nuclear Power Emergencies
4. Nuclear War Threats
5. Nuclear War
6. Yellowstone Caldera (Note: There are no Yellowstone Caldera bonus stories available in today’s Post.)
7. IAEA News (Friday’s only)

A current Digest of major nuclear media headlines with automated links is listed below by nuclear Category (in the above listed order). If a Category heading does not appear in the daily news Digest, it means there was no news reported from this Category today. Generally, the three best articles in each Category from around the nuclear world(s) are Posted. Occasionally, if a Post is important enough, it may be listed in multiple Categories.

TODAY’S ALL NUCLEAR WORLD’s NEWS, Friday, (09/12/2025)

All Things Nuclear

NEWS

Chris Wright: nuclear fusion will soon power the world – BBC

BBC

… nuclear fusion – the energy that powers the sun and stars. Chris Wright told … “There are a lot of rumours about all sorts of terrible things ..

Senate Republicans trigger ‘nuclear option,’ changing rules to speed up Trump nominees

NBC News

… thing. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., initiated the process … all next week. The tool they used is known as the nuclear option …

The long-term effects of nuclear waste in St. Louis | On Point – WBUR

WBUR

We actually, as a group of kids, we’d follow the creek into the airport, which was dangerous and all that sort of thing. But there we were, right in …

Nuclear Power

NEWS

Chris Wright: nuclear fusion will soon power the world – BBC

BBC

Chris Wright told me in an interview that he expected the technology to deliver power to electricity grids around the world within eight to 15 years …

Court rules Europe can call nuclear and natural gas sustainable investments for its green transition

AP News

Nuclear power is a carbon-free source of electricity but it is not typically labeled as green energy, like solar, wind and other renewables.

Second phase of US enrichment expansion completed – World Nuclear News

World Nuclear News

Urenco USA has started up a new cascade of gas centrifuges at its enrichment plant in New Mexico ahead of schedule – and is to supply Aalo Atomics …

Nuclear Power Emergencies

NEWS

DOE’s emergency orders create a moral hazard | Utility Dive

Utility Dive

The U.S. Department of Energy’s use of Federal Power Act authority to keep retiring fossil fuel plants online could trigger a vicious cycle that …

Trump pushes for power boost: emergency order for plants – YouTube

YouTube

While companies like Meta and Microsoft are investing in nuclear power, natural gas remains the primary energy source. In response to the growing …

Taiwan uses tech in Maanshan nuclear emergency drill | Taiwan News | Sep. 12, 2025 10:10

Taiwan News

Additional surveillance equipment has also been installed to ensure that radioactive materials do not leak. Although the plant was decommissioned in …

Nuclear War Threats

NEWS

WW3 nuclear threat issued by Putin henchman as Trump prepares to ‘collapse’ Russian economy

MSN

… attack raises risk of NATO war. “He (Bessent) says … Russian media figures have repeatedly issued nuclear threats throughout the hostilities.

Russia’s WW3 nuclear threat as Trump prepares to ‘collapse’ Russian economy – MSN

MSN

US Space Force test nuclear missile to show ‘readiness’ for war … Russian media figures have repeatedly issued nuclear threats throughout the ongoing …

Exclusive: South Korea-U.S. integrated nuclear-conventional exercise 15-19th

chosun.com

A military source said, “Given the escalation of North Korea’s nuclear threats … nuclear war plans have entered a concrete and practical …

Nuclear War

NEWS

Nuclear war: Can you afford to survive? Here’s how much private bunkers cost across Europe

Euronews.com

Europe’s Cold War bunker network has largely been decommissioned. But now, some civilians are opting for personalised nuclear protection as the …

Nuclear war: Can you afford to survive? Here’s how much private bunkers cost across Europe

Yahoo News Canada

During the Cold War, many European countries were packed with underground nuclear bunkers to shield civilians in case of attack.

China Breaks Silence After Flexing Nuclear Triad for First Time – Newsweek

Newsweek

… nuclear triad capabilities. Why It Matters. The September 3 parade commemorated the 80th anniversary of the official end of World War II in the …

IAEA Weekly News

12 September 2025

Read the top news and updates published on IAEA.org this week, in the lead-up to the IAEA General Conference starting Monday.

11 September 2025

Water is Everyone’s Responsibility: Interview with Retno Marsudi, the United Nations Secretary General’s Special Envoy on Water

The IAEA Scientific Forum on ‘Atoms for Water’ kicks off on 16 September. In advance of the event, the IAEA interviewed Retno Marsudi, the United Nations Secretary General’s Special Envoy on Water. Read more →

10 September 2025

What You Need to Know about the Largest Global Nuclear Conference

In September 2025, leaders, scientists and national representatives from our 180 member countries will gather in Vienna for the 69th IAEA General Conference – a critical event for nuclear decision-making. Find out more about the event and how it guides nuclear policy, peaceful uses, and the IAEA’s work Read more →

10 September 2025

Update 313 – IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine

IAEA teams in Ukraine reported hearing explosions and other indications of intense military activity overnight, further heightening concerns about the dangers to nuclear safety and security during the armed conflict, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said today. Read more →

8 September 2025

Restoring IAEA Inspections in Iran Would Create “Promising Ground” for Wider Progress, Says Director General Grossi

In his opening statement to the IAEAs Board of Governors today, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said Iran’s nuclear programme remained at the centre of IAEA efforts.  Read more →

8 September 2025

Nuclear Safety and Security Side Events at the 69th IAEA General Conference

The IAEA Department of Nuclear Safety and Security will host six side events and three tours, during the 69th IAEA General Conference, to be held in Vienna from 15 to 19 September 2025. Read more →