Beijing’s Defense Ministry rejected a Pentagon assessment of China’s nuclear modernization pace, which projects China could field about 1,500 warheads by 2035, calling the projection speculative. The ministry noted that such summaries often reflect conjecture or selective interpretation rather than official policy or confirmed plans.
The spokespersons in Beijing stressed that the United States should examine its own nuclear posture while remembering that the United States possesses the world’s largest nuclear arsenal. In their view, this context is essential when evaluating any comparative analysis of national strategic capabilities.
At the same time, the Chinese defense establishment labeled the United States as a prominent source of global security concerns, arguing that U.S. actions have repeatedly destabilized regions by pursuing its own interests, nurturing divisions, and contributing to regional and global disorder.
China reaffirmed its approach to nuclear policy as defensive in nature, emphasizing that it would not be the first to use nuclear weapons and that China maintains its nuclear forces at the minimum credible level required for security. The ministry underscored that this posture is designed to deter aggression while promoting strategic stability.
According to a recent SIPRI analysis cited in the report, the United States reportedly maintains around 3,700 nuclear warheads, with roughly 1,740 deployed on military forces. The comparison underscores broad differences in posture and modernization timelines between the two nations, rather than a simple parity statement.
Earlier coverage noted that the Pentagon’s annual assessment asserts China possesses the capacity to deploy a significant number of warheads and to complete a broad modernization cycle by the specified timeline. The figures reflect a broader US and international discourse about modernization, force structure, and how each nation views its deterrent strategy in a changing security environment.
In early November, remarks by a senior U.S. defense official suggested that Washington anticipates facing two nuclear powers with arsenals approaching comparable scales, as Beijing is expected to intensify its nuclear capabilities in the coming years. The comments highlighted ongoing debates about strategic balance, transparency, and the implications for allied deterrence in the late 2020s and early 2030s. (Source attribution: SIPRI and official U.S. Defense Department statements)