China has sharply expanded nuclear arsenal, US says

BBC: China has significantly increased its nuclear stockpile, now holding around 500 operational warheads, according to a report by the US Pentagon. The report suggests that China intends to double its arsenal to over 1,000 warheads by 2030. However, it is worth noting that China maintains a “no-first strike” policy. While this growth exceeds previous projections, China’s nuclear stockpile still lags far behind that of Russia, which has approximately 5,889 warheads, and the US, with around 5,244 warheads.

Additionally, the Pentagon report mentions that China has likely completed the construction of three new clusters of missile sites in 2022, including at least 300 new Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBMs) silos. These developments could potentially allow China to threaten conventional strikes against targets in the continental US, Hawaii, and Alaska.

Despite the increase in its nuclear capabilities, the report emphasizes that China remains committed to a policy of deterrence and counterstrike in case of enemy aggression.

The entire article can be read at the link https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-67163903