The Pentagon said Tuesday that China is expanding its nuclear force and is on track to quadruple the number of warheads it has by 2035, quickly closing the gap with the United States.
The ministry said in its annual report that China currently possesses about 400 nuclear warheads, and the number may increase to 1,500 by 2035, according to the Associated Press.
In contrast, the United States currently has 3,750 active nuclear warheads.
The report relies, according to the agency, on the US military’s warning last year that China is expanding its nuclear power much faster than US officials expected, highlighting the broad and accelerating build-up of military force designed to enable Beijing to match or surpass the global power of the United States by the middle of the century.
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The Pentagon said that China is increasingly resorting to its armed forces as one of the main tools it uses to achieve its interests, which is reflected in the security interests of the United States and its allies and partners.
The report pointed out that China is seeking to expand its logistical infrastructure and military bases abroad, allowing its army to use its military power in distant regions.
The Pentagon confirmed that the Chinese army’s possession of a global logistical network may impede future US military operations.
It is likely that China is studying and planning multiple options in the field of military logistical facilities abroad to support land, sea and air operations, including the United Arab Emirates and other countries in Africa and Asia.
