by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) – China is rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal at an unprecedented pace, according to a U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) report. The report warns that growing capabilities could boost Chinese leaders’ confidence and increase the risk of dangerous mistakes—raising the potential for escalation in the coming years.
China is rapidly advancing its nuclear capabilities at a faster rate than any time in history, surpassing 2018 projections with over 500 deliverable warheads, according to the DIA report.
The report “Nuclear Challenges” projects that by 2030, China will have over 1,000 operational warheads, with most capable of reaching the continental United States.
“China is undergoing the most rapid expansion and ambitious modernization of its nuclear forces in history — almost certainly driven by an aim for enduring strategic competition with the U.S. and a goal to actualize intensified strategic concepts that have existed for decades but are now being realized,” the report said.
In addition to expanding its nuclear arsenal, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has undertaken a sweeping modernization campaign, achieving several key milestones over the past five years.
China has established the air leg of its nuclear triad with the H-6N bomber, capable of aerial refueling and carrying nuclear-capable air-launched ballistic missiles, first showcased in the 2019 Chinese National Day parade.
China has expanded its arsenal of road-mobile DF-26 intermediate-range ballistic missiles (IRBMs), dubbed the “Guam killer” for their ability to target U.S. forces on the Pacific island. According to the report, these missiles represent Beijing’s first precision-strike nuclear-capable weapons.
China’s military has added two more Type 094 JIN-class submarines, increasing the fleet to six. It has also upgraded its missile systems with the longer-range JL-3 submarine-launched missile, which can reach the U.S. from secure areas like the South China Sea.
The report detailed how China has also deployed the DF-31 road-mobile Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) with enhanced survivability and introduced the DF-41, its first road-mobile ICBM equipped with Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology. This weapon can carry up to three warheads and offers greater range and accuracy than earlier models.
Finally, the report warned that as China strengthens its nuclear capabilities, its leaders may become more confident but more prone to dangerous mistakes. The report concluded that with the PLA still figuring out how to use these new weapons effectively, the chances of escalation could increase in the coming years.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
More Worthy News
Iran is close to finalizing a deal with China to purchase advanced anti-ship cruise missiles, according to six sources familiar with the negotiations, as the United States expands its naval presence near Iranian waters amid rising tensions, according to a recent Reuters report.
Slovakia has halted emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine since Monday and Hungary blocked a 90 billion ($98 billion) European Union loan after Kyiv did not restore Russian oil deliveries through the Druzhba (“Friendship”) pipeline.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Tuesday that Russia had not “broken Ukrainians” nor triumphed in the war despite a mounting death toll, as his country marked the fourth anniversary of Moscow’s full-scale invasion.
A coalition of human rights organizations said Tuesday that European politicians condemning abuses by U.S. immigration authorities should also confront what they described as widespread illegal “pushbacks” at Europe’s own borders.
Progressive politician Rob Jetten became the youngest and first openly gay prime minister in Dutch history on Monday when his minority government was formally sworn in by King Willem-Alexander at the Royal Palace Huis ten Bosch in The Hague, the seat of government of the Netherlands.
A British political and royal crisis over the elite’s ties to late U.S. sex offender Jeffrey Epstein deepened Monday as police arrested Britain’s former ambassador to the United States, Peter Mandelson, on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
Nuclear negotiations between the United States and Iran are scheduled for Thursday in Geneva, marking the third round of indirect talks this month as tensions continue to mount across the Middle East.