Pentagon: China possesses 600 nuclear warheads.

" China used to have a very, very small and relatively outdated nuclear arsenal. What we've seen over time is that they've expanded it into a nuclear triad, with a naval force that has a fleet of ballistic missile submarines conducting deterrent patrols," emphasized Michael Chase, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for China.

In recent years, the U.S. has observed an increase in the diversity of capabilities, as well as the development of precision-guided missiles with low-yield nuclear warheads, from Beijing.

China's total number of nuclear warheads has risen to 600.

The report on China's military strength is mandated by the U.S. Congress and has been published annually for the past two decades. The Pentagon report also addresses China's defense capabilities.

In recent years, the Pentagon has repeatedly assessed that China's nuclear arsenal development has exceeded American expectations. First, in a 2021 report, Beijing's number of nuclear warheads could reach 1,000 by 2030.

As of May 2023, the Pentagon estimated that China possessed more than 500 operational nuclear warheads. By mid-2024, that number had increased by approximately 20%. Meanwhile, as of 2023, the United States had 3,748 operational nuclear warheads.

China has refused to restrict development under international arms control agreements, arguing that the United States and Russia, the countries possessing the largest nuclear arsenals, are responsible for limiting their own stockpiles. The country maintains that it keeps its nuclear forces at the level necessary to meet its national security needs.

Kong Anh (Source: South China Morning Post)

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