China Expands Nuclear Arsenal, Neared US Russia ICBM Parity by 2030

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) reports that China has the fastest-growing nuclear arsenal globally, with at least 600 nuclear warheads and the addition of about 100 warheads annually since 2023. China has constructed approximately 350 new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) silos and could achieve parity with the US and Russia in terms of ICBM numbers by 2030, though it will still have fewer warheads overall. SIPRI estimates China could reach up to 1,500 warheads by 2035, compared to over 5,000 warheads each for the US and Russia, which together hold nearly 90% of the world's nuclear weapons. The global nuclear warhead inventory is approximately 12,241, with around 2,100 deployed on high alert ballistic missiles, mostly by the US and Russia. SIPRI’s director, Dan Smith, and other experts warn of a dangerous new nuclear arms race amid weakened arms control regimes, with nearly all nine nuclear-armed countries modernizing their arsenals. Meanwhile, China maintains its nuclear strategy is focused on self-defense and urges the US and Russia to reduce their stockpiles substantially to facilitate broader nuclear disarmament talks.