China is expanding its nuclear arsenal “faster than any other country” and could have as many intercontinental ballistic missiles as the US or Russia by the end of the decade.
Beijing now has at least 500 nuclear warheads, up from 410 a year ago, according to an annual report from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), a Sweden-based think tank focused on conflict and arms control.
For the first time, China has likely begun deploying a small number of them – estimated to be around 24 – on high operational alert, ready for launch at a moment’s notice, it added.
China is investing heavily in modern weaponry, including its nuclear arsenal, and could have as many as 1,000 warheads by 2030.
By January 2024, the United States and Russia had amassed 3,708 and 4,380 nuclear warheads respectively, accounting for the majority of the global total of just over 12,000 weapons.
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What are your feelings about the balance of power in the world if more countries start to rapidly increase their nuclear arsenals?
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How do you think the world should respond to a single country significantly expanding its nuclear capabilities faster than others?
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Considering the potential for China to have 1,000 nuclear warheads by 2030, how does this impact your view on global peace and security?
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What emotions or thoughts come to mind when you hear that China could have as many intercontinental ballistic missiles as the US or Russia by the end of the decade?
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How do you feel about the idea of any country, such as China, rapidly increasing its nuclear arsenal in today's world?
