Nuclear security

China planning to double its stockpile of nuclear warheads: Pentagon

China is likely planning to double its stockpile of nuclear warheads in this decade, including those designed for ballistic missiles and that can reach the U.S., the Pentagonsaid in a report Tuesday.

Even so, China’s nuclear force would be dwarfed by that of the U.S., which has an estimated 3,800 warheads ready for action and more in reserve, according to the report. China currently has nuclear warheads in the “low-200s,” but is nearing the ability to launch nuclear strikes by air, land, and sea. This is the first time the U.S. military has disclosed China’s nuclear warhead count.

The Trump administration has been urging China to join a nuclear arms treaty with the U.S. and Russia to limit nuclear arms expansion between the three nations, but China has refused. Chinese Foreign Ministry officials have said their arsenal is not big enough to be included in negotiated limits. Chinese officials have said pressuring China to join a trilateral agreement should not be used as an excuse to walk away from START, the existing U.S.-Russia nuclear agreement set to expire in February. It could be renewed for up to five years if Moscow and Washington agree.