China is rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal

Chinese DF-41 nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missiles during a military parade in Tiananmen Square. Beijing is said to be building up its nuclear arsenals. Photo: Greg Barker/AFP via Getty Images

China is rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal and is «almost certainly» learning lessons from Russia's war in Ukraine, according to a Pentagon report.

Beijing exceeds Washington's previous nuclear buildup projections weapons amid concerns that it is preparing for a potential conflict over Taiwan.

The Pentagon estimates that China had more than 500 nuclear warheads as of May, up about 100 from last year. according to its annual report on China's military power.

A senior Pentagon official said he estimates China will «exceed previous projections» that it will have more than 1,500 nuclear warheads by 2035.

China may also be developing a new intercontinental missile system that would give it the ability to “threaten with conventional strikes” against the continental United States, as well as Hawaii and Alaska.

The report comes a month ahead of a significant expected potential meeting between US President Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in California next month.

Both Republicans and Democrats increasingly view Beijing as the biggest long-term threat to America's security.

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After the conflict between Israel and Hamas, however, the Pentagon was forced to turn its attention back to the Middle East.

Meanwhile, the Biden administration is actively supporting Ukraine in its fight to repel the Russian invasion .

However, the Pentagon's national defense strategy is built around countering a rising China.

U.S. defense officials believe China's massive and accelerating military buildup is designed to enable Beijing to match or surpass U.S. global power by mid-century.< /p>

A report last year warned that Beijing was rapidly modernizing its nuclear forces and was on track to nearly quadruple the number of warheads it has, to 1,500 by 2035. The United States has 3,750 active nuclear warheads.

The 2023 report said Beijing aims to field more than 1,000 nuclear warheads by 2030. The acceleration is aimed at achieving Xi Jinping's goal of building a «world-class» military by 2049.

Since the previous report, China has accused the US of stoking tensions, and Beijing has said it remains committed to a «no first use» policy. nuclear weapons.

The Pentagon sees no signs that China is moving away from the policy, but believes there may be some circumstances in which China might decide it doesn't apply, the senior official said.

America is not following the policy » «no first use» but says nuclear weapons will only be used in «extreme circumstances.»

Pentagon report says China is increasing military, diplomatic and economic pressure — not just on Taiwan, but on all other countries. its regional neighbors to push back against what it sees as U.S. efforts to curb its rise.

Pressure on Taipei includes ballistic missile overflights and increased incursions by military aircraft into its international defense zone.

The report also found that Beijing is using what it learned from the Russian-Ukrainian war.

< p>China said that it is striving for industrial and economic independence, having seen the consequences of Western sanctions against Moscow.