China Surpasses 600 Nuclear Warheads, Plans 1,000 by 2030: US Intel

China is rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal, having surpassed 600 operational warheads and projected to exceed 1,000 by 2030, according to a US Defense Intelligence Agency report. This expansion aims to enhance China's deterrence capabilities, enabling both precise low-yield strikes and large-scale intercontinental attacks, reflecting its broader strategic goals in East Asia and competition with the US and its allies. Meanwhile, the United States' nuclear stockpile has significantly diminished since the Cold War, with the current arsenal being about 85% smaller and facing concerns about aging warheads and reduced forward-deployed forces in Asia. Experts warn this shift increases risks to global security and calls for urgent modernization of the US nuclear deterrent. Additionally, the involvement of extraterritorial countries in military exercises in the South China Sea is viewed by Chinese experts as exacerbating regional tensions and potentially heightening Cold War-like risks. Together, these developments underscore growing geopolitical and military tensions centered around China’s rise and nuclear capabilities.