1974, June 13

According to a (declassified) CIA National Intelligence Estimate on China's Strategic Attack Programs, China has a modest, but credible nuclear retaliatory capacity against the USSR, consisting of about 130 nuclear delivery vehicles - half missiles and half bombers. These systems have the range to hit US forces and bases in Asia as well as targets in the eastern USSR, but cannot attack the continental US.

Literature:

US Central Intelligence Agency (1974): China's Strategic Attack Programs. National Intelligence Estimate, NIE 13-8-74 (Declassified: May 2004)

External Web Links:

http://www.foia.cia.gov/search.asp?pageNumber=1&freqReqRecord=nic_china.txt#