China has more than 500 operational nuclear warheads: Pentagon

Published October 19,2023

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The Pentagon stated Thursday that China has greater than 500 operational nuclear warheads and can most likely have 1,000 by 2030.

“In 2022, Beijing continued its rapid nuclear expansion, and DoD estimates that the PRC (People’s Republic of China) possessed more than 500 operational nuclear warheads as of May 2023—on track to exceed previous projections,” it stated in its annual report on China’s army and safety developments.

The report estimated that PRC (People’s Republic of China) will “probably” have greater than 1,000 operational nuclear warheads by 2030, “much of which will be deployed at higher readiness levels and will continue growing its force to 2035.”

“The PRC probably will use its new fast breeder reactors and reprocessing facilities to produce plutonium for its nuclear weapons program, despite publicly maintaining these technologies are intended for peaceful purposes,” it stated.

China can be growing its stock of nuclear supply methods on land, sea and air, in response to the report.

The Federation of American Scientists stated the U.S. has a stockpile of about 3,700 nuclear warheads whereas Russia has 1,550 nuclear weapons.