Pakistan Wanted Sea-Based Nuclear Second-Strike Weapon, China Refused: Leaked Diplomatic Cables

Last Updated:May 18, 2026, 17:13 IST

A sea-based nuclear second-strike capability is a country’s ability to launch a retaliatory nuclear attack even after suffering a devastating first strike.

Pakistan had sought a sea-based nuclear second-strike capability from an all-weather friend China in 2024. But Beijing, which had already supplied weapons and a huge amount of money, refused to the most sensitive element of any nuclear power’s deterrent to Islamabad, according to classified documents released by Drop Site News.

China described Pakistan’s demand as “unreasonable" and noted that the second-strike request would amount to direct Chinese participation in nuclear proliferation in South Asia.

Besides this, Pakistan reportedly placed several conditions before China in exchange for allowing Beijing to convert the deep-water Gwadar port into a permanent Chinese military facility — a proposal Islamabad had resisted for more than a decade.

According to the report, Pakistan sought guarantees from China against potential US political, economic, or diplomatic retaliation over the move. Islamabad also asked Beijing to provide military modernisation assistance to help maintain Pakistan’s defence and intelligence capabilities in competition with India.

All About Sea-based Nuclear Second-strike Capability

A sea-based nuclear second-strike capability is a country’s ability to launch a retaliatory nuclear attack even after suffering a devastating first strike. It relies on nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs), which remain hidden underwater and are extremely difficult to detect or destroy.

The capability acts as a powerful deterrent, ensuring that no enemy can eliminate a nation’s nuclear arsenal in a surprise attack. To maintain it, countries must keep at least one SSBN on patrol at all times, backed by advanced stealth and secure communication systems.

A sea-based nuclear second-strike capability is held by only six nations that operate nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines. The United States maintains a large, highly sophisticated fleet of Ohio-class vessels, while Russia relies on its modern Borei-class submarines to patrol the Arctic and Pacific. China secures its deterrent using Type 094 submarines equipped with long-range ballistic missiles. In Europe, France and the United Kingdom base their entire nuclear strategies on the ocean, with each nation ensuring at least one submarine is permanently on patrol at all times.

India achieved its capability through the domestic Arihant-class program, which continues to expand to ensure a continuous deterrence rotation. Beyond these big powers, Israel is widely believed to maintain a regional second-strike capability using modified, conventional Dolphin-class submarines.

News world Pakistan Wanted Sea-Based Nuclear Second-Strike Weapon, China Refused: Leaked Diplomatic Cables

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