China stockpiling nuclear warheads at fastest rate globally, new research shows

Source: The Guardian

China stockpiling nuclear warheads at fastest rate globally, new research shows

New report estimates that China now has at least 600 nuclear warheads, with around 100 per year being added to the stockpile since 2023

Amy Hawkins in Beijing
Tue 17 Jun 2025 06.10 BST
Last modified on Tue 17 Jun 2025 06.11 BST

China is growing its stockpile of nuclear warheads at a faster rate than any other country, according to newly published research.

A report published on Monday by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) estimated that China now has at least 600 nuclear warheads, with about 100 per year being added to the stockpile since 2023.

At a regular foreign ministry press briefing on Monday, spokesperson Guo Jiakun declined to comment on the report but said: “China has always adhered to the nuclear strategy of self-defence, always maintained its nuclear forces at the minimum level required for national security, and has not participated in the arms race.”

Guo said that China adheres to a policy of not being the first to use nuclear weapons at any time, and that China would not use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear armed states.

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Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jun/17/china-nuclear-warheads-weapons-stockpile