China readies itself for war
The Chinese nuclear arsenal is expanding rapidly, according to a report from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
The number of operational nuclear warheads globally is increasing each year, with China’s stockpile growing the fastest. SIPRI predicts that China’s active intercontinental nuclear missiles could rival American and Russian arsenals by 2030.
“While the global total of nuclear warheads continues to fall as cold war-era weapons are gradually dismantled, regrettably we continue to see year-on-year increases in the number of operational nuclear warheads,” SIPRI Director Dan Smith stated.
“This trend seems likely to continue and probably accelerate in the coming years and is extremely concerning.”
SIPRI estimated that China’s stockpile of nuclear weapons grew from 410 to about 500 operational warheads in 2023.
The institute also noted that China is believed to be deploying warheads during peacetime, marking a first for the country.
Why it’s noteworthy
Although China’s total stockpile of nuclear weapons is projected to remain much lower than those of the U.S. or Russia, its aggressive deployment could see it match their active armament levels in the coming years, SIPRI warned.
“China is expanding its nuclear arsenal faster than any other country,” wrote SIPRI associate senior fellow Hans Kristensen.
“But in nearly all of the nuclear-armed states there are either plans or a significant push to increase nuclear forces.”
SIPRI reported that about 2,100 nuclear missiles are deployed and operational at any given moment, with almost all of them owned by the U.S. or Russia.
China’s armament buildup coincides with rising global tensions, including conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza and ongoing disputes over Taiwan.
China has intensified its military drills near Taiwan over the past year, with some analysts suggesting it may be considering an invasion of the island.
The projected increase in China’s nuclear arsenal reflects a Pentagon report from last October, which also estimated that China has around 500 operational nuclear weapons and could expand to about 1,000 by 2030.
This nuclear expansion is part of a broader trend where most countries are expanding or modernizing their stockpiles, according to SIPRI.
Other nations follow China’s lead
North Korea, France, and India have all taken steps to expand their arsenals in the past year, while Israel, which does not officially acknowledge possessing nuclear weapons, is believed to be modernizing its stockpile.
Despite a struggling economy and slow recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, China has continued its substantial investment in defense.
An April SIPRI report highlighted that China allocated about six percent of its budget to defense, marking the 29th consecutive year of increased defense spending.
