According to a new U.S. Pentagon report, China is rapidly increasing its nuclear capabilities.
The report, required yearly by the U.S. Congress, states that China had over 500 active nuclear warheads as of May 2023.
The report predicts that this number will likely grow to more than 1,000 by 2030. Moreover, the report shows that China is also modernizing its military.
This includes applying more pressure on Taiwan, an island that operates independently but is claimed by China.
U.S. defense officials note that China’s speed in expanding its nuclear arsenal is even faster than prior U.S. forecasts.
Furthermore, the report describes China’s efforts to improve how it can send these warheads.
It seems that China has finished building launch sites for intercontinental ballistic missiles, having more than 300 silos.
For comparison, the U.S. has 3,708 nuclear warheads and Russia has 4,489, according to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. They estimate China’s count at 410.
The U.S. sees China as its main strategic competitor. China is the only country with both the will and the growing ability to challenge the current world order.
Although relations between the two nations are tense, recent months have seen a return to talks. However, China still avoids direct high-level talks between military leaders.
This fast growth in China’s nuclear stockpile is causing concern globally. The U.S. is asking China for more open sharing of information.
Background
The acceleration in China’s nuclear program comes at a time of global focus on arms control.
Historically, China has always maintained a “no first use” policy regarding nuclear weapons. This means China pledges not to use nuclear weapons unless attacked with them first.
Despite this, the rapid expansion adds a layer of complexity to global security.
In contrast, the U.S. and Russia have engaged in arms control agreements, like the New START treaty.
This treaty aims to limit the number of deployed strategic nuclear warheads. However, China has not yet joined any such international agreement.
Its increased military activity and nuclear expansion could signal a shift, affecting not just the U.S., but global strategies for peace and security.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated AI newsroom. Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief. The Rio Times also runs Ask Rio Times, which answers from 100,000+ of our own articles, the daily Latin America Power Map, and prediction-market odds on elections and markets.. How we use AI · Report an error