What Has Their Bomb Cost the Chinese?
Abstract
An estimate of the cost, in U.S. dollars, of the development and production of China's first nuclear device is presented. The estimate is based upon capital and operating costs of the facilities known to be required in a nuclear weapons program. The U.S. dollar value of the effort expended is related to the Chinese economy in terms of the cost of complete industrial plants that China could purchase on the world market. The impact of the nuclear development program on the Chinese economy is illustrated by examples of increased capacity that could have been obtained in the agriculture, steel, electrical generation, petroleum, and other industries with investments comparable to those made in the nuclear program. The magnitude of the economic sacrifice that China has made to become a nuclear power provides an understanding of the importance of membership in the nuclear club by Chinese Communist leaders.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 18, 1966
- Accession Number
- ADA488043
Entities
People
- James W. Barnett
Organizations
- United States Army War College