China's Nuclear Expansion Accelerates, Aiming for Strategic Parity with US

A new US intelligence report highlights China's unprecedented nuclear buildup as part of its strategic competition with Washington.

• China's nuclear arsenal has more than doubled since 2018, with over 500 warheads now operational, according to the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA).
• The DIA forecasts China's nuclear warhead count could exceed 1,000 by 2030, driven by a strategic rivalry with the United States.
• China is expanding its nuclear capabilities across land, sea, and air, including building hundreds of missile silos and enhancing its missile and bomber fleets.
• Despite historically maintaining a non-first-use policy, China might consider nuclear options if its conventional forces face significant threats, especially concerning Taiwan.
• The report also notes that China's rapid nuclear expansion increases the risk of miscalculation, potentially destabilizing global security dynamics.

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