China's rapidly expanding nuclear arsenal is reshaping the global strategic landscape. New assessments suggest Beijing is narrowing key capability gaps with the United States and Russia, raising questions about the future of nuclear deterrence and strategic stability. As China modernises its missile forces, expands silo fields, and develops advanced delivery systems, analysts warn that the global nuclear balance may be entering a new era. This report examines China's nuclear ambitions, the shifting balance of power, and what it could mean for international security.

Beijing Closes The Nuclear 'Attack' Gap: Global Nuclear Balance Starts To Shift

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After a Pentagon report highlighted a major increase in China's nuclear warhead arsenal over the next decade, the country's foreign ministry dismissed it as "full of prejudice".

China's foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said the report "ignores facts" and "is purely just manipulative banter".

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-has-less-nukes-than-pakistan-china-new-analysis-of-capabilities-426600">Also Read|&nbsp;India has less nukes than Pakistan, China: New analysis of capabilities</a>

The Pentagon report said China could have 1,000 nuclear warheads by 2030 and had started building at least "three intercontinental ballistic missile silo fields".&nbsp;

However, the Chinese foreign ministry said it was "cheap tricks based on gossip" while accusing the US of being the "largest nuclear threat to this world."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/very-concerning-pentagon-report-says-china-could-have-1000-nuclear-warheads-by-2030-426519">Also Read:&nbsp;Pentagon report on China's&nbsp;nuclear warheads&nbsp;</a>

Reports claim the US has 3,750 nuclear warheads. The Pentagon report said China's nuclear arsenal had grown faster than expected while adding that the country is building a "nuclear triad".

The report claimed that the Xi regime is also building the infrastructure necessary to support major expansion of its nuclear forces.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/amid-tensions-with-china-taiwan-military-unveils-exoskeleton-suit-for-soldiers-426511">Also Read:&nbsp;Amid tensions with China, Taiwan military unveils exoskeleton suit for soldiers</a>

Last year the Pentagon report had said that China possessed&nbsp;&nbsp;200 nuclear warheads and was in line to double the number by the end of the decade, however, the latest report projected a dramatic increase in China's warhead producing capability.

The report comes as tensions between the US and China has grown over Taiwan as Chinese jets last month repeatedly entered Taipei's air defence zone.

(With inputs from Agencies)

After a Pentagon report highlighted a major increase in China's nuclear warhead arsenal over the next decade, the country's foreign ministry dismissed it as "full of prejudice".

After a Pentagon report highlighted a major increase in China's nuclear warhead arsenal over the next decade, the country's foreign ministry dismissed it as "full of prejudice". China's foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said the report "ignores facts" and "is purely just manipulative banter". Also Read| India has less nukes than Pakistan, China: New analysis of capabilities The Pentagon report said China could have 1,000 nuclear warheads by 2030 and had started building at least "three intercontinental ballistic missile silo fields". However, the Chinese foreign ministry said it was "cheap tricks based on gossip" while accusing the US of being the "largest nuclear threat to this world." Also Read: Pentagon report on China's nuclear warheads Reports claim the US has 3,750 nuclear warheads. The Pentagon report said China's nuclear arsenal had grown faster than expected while adding that the country is building a "nuclear triad". The report claimed that the Xi regime is also building the infrastructure necessary to support major expansion of its nuclear forces. Also Read: Amid tensions with China, Taiwan military unveils exoskeleton suit for soldiers Last year the Pentagon report had said that China possessed 200 nuclear warheads and was in line to double the number by the end of the decade, however, the latest report projected a dramatic increase in China's warhead producing capability. The report comes as tensions between the US and China has grown over Taiwan as Chinese jets last month repeatedly entered Taipei's air defence zone. (With inputs from Agencies)

Cheap tricks based on gossip, says China on Pentagon's nuclear warhead report

A new report has revealed that China is making rapid progress in developing silos missiles that have the ability to launch nuclear weapons.

The report, released by the Federation of American Scientists (FAS) has come after US Air Force General John Hyten had called China a ''pacing threat.''

It states that China's nuclear buildup is ''unprecedented'' and ''the missile silo fields are still many years away from becoming fully operational and it remains to be seen how China will arm and operate them.''

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-air-force-general-john-hyten-calls-china-pacing-threat-424911">Also read |&nbsp;US Air Force General John Hyten calls China 'pacing threat'</a>

Satellite images showed China was building a new field of silos near Hami in the eastern part of its Xinjiang region.

<img alt="cd" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d55ec4bf-e3c7-46df-97e5-4f9ea7873ab0" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%284%29_107.jpg" />

In picture:&nbsp;Suspected missile silos near Ordos at different stages of construction/Federation of American Scientists

The report came weeks after another on the construction of about 120 missile silos in Yumen, a desert area about 240 miles (380 km) to the southeast.

Earlier, Hyten had said ''China will surpass Russia and the United States if we don't do something to change it. It will happen. So I think we have to do something."

He had also called the bureaucracy in the United States ''brutal'' and ''slow.''

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-calls-report-of-china-building-more-than-100-nuclear-missile-silos-concerning-395234">Also read |&nbsp;US calls report of China building more than 100 nuclear missile silos 'concerning'</a>

The top US military officer, General Mark Milley, had provided the first official confirmation of a Chinese hypersonic weapons test that military experts say appears to show Beijing's pursuit of an Earth-orbiting system designed to evade American missile defences.

In July, the State US Department had called China's nuclear buildup concerning and said it appeared Beijing was deviating from decades of nuclear strategy based around minimal deterrence.

A 2020 Pentagon report estimated China's nuclear warhead stockpile in "the low 200s" and said it was projected to at least double in size as Beijing expands and modernises its forces.

Analysts say the United States has around 3,800 warheads, and according to a state department, 1,357 of those were deployed as of March 1.

Washington has repeatedly called on China to join it and Russia in a new arms control treaty.

Beijing says its arsenal is dwarfed by those of the United States and Russia and it is ready to conduct bilateral dialogues on strategic security "on the basis of equality and mutual respect."

(With inputs from agencies)

A new report has revealed that China is making rapid progress in developing silos missiles that have the ability to launch nuclear weapons. The report, released by the Federation of American Scientists (FAS) has come after US Air Force General John Hyten had called China a ''pacing threat.

A new report has revealed that China is making rapid progress in developing silos missiles that have the ability to launch nuclear weapons. The report, released by the Federation of American Scientists (FAS) has come after US Air Force General John Hyten had called China a ''pacing threat.'' It states that China's nuclear buildup is ''unprecedented'' and ''the missile silo fields are still many years away from becoming fully operational and it remains to be seen how China will arm and operate them.'' Also read | US Air Force General John Hyten calls China 'pacing threat' Satellite images showed China was building a new field of silos near Hami in the eastern part of its Xinjiang region. In picture: Suspected missile silos near Ordos at different stages of construction/Federation of American Scientists The report came weeks after another on the construction of about 120 missile silos in Yumen, a desert area about 240 miles (380 km) to the southeast. Earlier, Hyten had said ''China will surpass Russia and the United States if we don't do something to change it. It will happen. So I think we have to do something." He had also called the bureaucracy in the United States ''brutal'' and ''slow.'' Also read | US calls report of China building more than 100 nuclear missile silos 'concerning' The top US military officer, General Mark Milley, had provided the first official confirmation of a Chinese hypersonic weapons test that military experts say appears to show Beijing's pursuit of an Earth-orbiting system designed to evade American missile defences. In July, the State US Department had called China's nuclear buildup concerning and said it appeared Beijing was deviating from decades of nuclear strategy based around minimal deterrence. A 2020 Pentagon report estimated China's nuclear warhead stockpile in "the low 200s" and said it was projected to at least double in size as Beijing expands and modernises its forces. Analysts say the United States has around 3,800 warheads, and according to a state department, 1,357 of those were deployed as of March 1. Washington has repeatedly called on China to join it and Russia in a new arms control treaty. Beijing says its arsenal is dwarfed by those of the United States and Russia and it is ready to conduct bilateral dialogues on strategic security "on the basis of equality and mutual respect." (With inputs from agencies)

China making rapid progress in development of silos missiles that could launch nuclear weapons: Report

A&nbsp;US media report has revealed the possibility of a potential leak in a&nbsp;Chinese nuclear plant near Hong Kong after its French operator said that the&nbsp;plant is dealing with a "performance issue" linked to a gas build-up.

The Taishan Nuclear Power Plant is jointly owned by China Guangdong Nuclear Power Group and French multinational electric utility Électricité de France, the main owner of Framotome, which helps operate the plant.

CNN reported Monday that Framotome had written to the US&nbsp;Department of Energy warning of an ''imminent radiological threat''&nbsp;and accusing Chinese authorities of raising acceptable limits for radiation outside the plant to avoid having to shut it down.

EDF, the majority owner of Framatome, said in a statement that it had requested an extraordinary meeting of the power plant's board "for management to present all the data and the necessary decisions".

Framatome said in a statement&nbsp;that it is "supporting a resolution of a performance issue" at the plant.

"According to the data available, the plant is operating within the safety parameters," the company said.

EDF later said that there was an "increase in the concentration of certain noble gases in the primary circuit of reactor no. 1" at Taishan, referring to a part of the reactor's cooling system.

Noble gases are elements like argon, helium and neon which have low chemical reactivity.

Their presence in the system "is a known phenomenon, studied and provided for in the reactor operating procedures," EDF said.

David Fishman, manager at energy-focused consulting group The Lantau Group, said that the presence of noble gases could suggest the problem was caused by a cracked fuel rod.

"When you have a cracked fuel rod... you get a small release potentially of fission materials from inside that cracked fuel rod into the cooling loop, where it wouldn't normally be," he said.&nbsp;

"Failed fuel or cracked fuel is a fairly normal and common, undesirably certainly&nbsp;but not uncommon phenomenon in the nuclear fuel industry."

Citing a letter from Framatome to the US energy department, CNN said the warning included an accusation that the Chinese safety authority was raising the acceptable limits for radiation outside the facility in order to avoid having to shut it down.

But a US official told the broadcaster that the administration of President Joe Biden believes the facility is not yet at "crisis level".

The operator of the power station, state-owned China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN), said in a statement on Sunday evening that "the environmental indicators of Taishan Nuclear Power Plant and its surroundings are normal".

It did not reference any leak or incident at the power station, which it said meets "the requirements of nuclear safety regulations and power plant technical specifications."

The International Atomic Energy Agency, a UN body, said it had contacted its counterpart in China regarding the issue.

"At this stage, the Agency has no indication that a radiological incident occurred," the IAEA said in a statement, adding that it would share more information "as it becomes available".

If the problem is a cracked fuel rod, said Fishman, it would have to be logged by the Chinese nuclear safety administration with a mitigation report to fix the problem.

What's more, "if (Framatome) were going to transfer over any information that they have gotten from working in the US, they would have to apply for an exemption... because CGN is on the US entity list," he added.

"It is a no-fly zone for any US information, any information or data or technology or IP to go to China."

Powered up in 2018, the Taishan plant was the first worldwide to operate a next-generation EPR nuclear reactor, a pressurised water design that has been subject to years of delays in similar European projects in Britain, France and Finland.

There are now two EPR power units at the plant in the city of Taishan, which sits close to the coastline of southern Guangdong -- China's most populous province.

EPR reactors have been touted as promising advances in safety and efficiency over conventional reactors while producing less waste.

Nuclear plants supplied less than five percent of China's annual electricity needs in 2019, according to the National Energy Administration, but this share is expected to grow as Beijing attempts to become carbon neutral by 2060.

China has 47 nuclear plants with a total generation capacity of 48.75 gigawatts, the world's third-highest after the United States and France&nbsp;and has invested billions of dollars to develop its nuclear energy sector.

Last month Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping launched work on Russian-built nuclear power plants in China.

(With inputs from agencies)

A US media report has revealed the possibility of a potential leak in a Chinese nuclear plant near Hong Kong after its French operator said that the plant is dealing with a "performance issue" linked to a gas build-up.

A US media report has revealed the possibility of a potential leak in a Chinese nuclear plant near Hong Kong after its French operator said that the plant is dealing with a "performance issue" linked to a gas build-up. The Taishan Nuclear Power Plant is jointly owned by China Guangdong Nuclear Power Group and French multinational electric utility Électricité de France, the main owner of Framotome, which helps operate the plant. CNN reported Monday that Framotome had written to the US Department of Energy warning of an ''imminent radiological threat'' and accusing Chinese authorities of raising acceptable limits for radiation outside the plant to avoid having to shut it down. EDF, the majority owner of Framatome, said in a statement that it had requested an extraordinary meeting of the power plant's board "for management to present all the data and the necessary decisions". Framatome said in a statement that it is "supporting a resolution of a performance issue" at the plant. "According to the data available, the plant is operating within the safety parameters," the company said. EDF later said that there was an "increase in the concentration of certain noble gases in the primary circuit of reactor no. 1" at Taishan, referring to a part of the reactor's cooling system. Noble gases are elements like argon, helium and neon which have low chemical reactivity. Their presence in the system "is a known phenomenon, studied and provided for in the reactor operating procedures," EDF said. David Fishman, manager at energy-focused consulting group The Lantau Group, said that the presence of noble gases could suggest the problem was caused by a cracked fuel rod. "When you have a cracked fuel rod... you get a small release potentially of fission materials from inside that cracked fuel rod into the cooling loop, where it wouldn't normally be," he said. "Failed fuel or cracked fuel is a fairly normal and common, undesirably certainly but not uncommon phenomenon in the nuclear fuel industry." Citing a letter from Framatome to the US energy department, CNN said the warning included an accusation that the Chinese safety authority was raising the acceptable limits for radiation outside the facility in order to avoid having to shut it down. But a US official told the broadcaster that the administration of President Joe Biden believes the facility is not yet at "crisis level". The operator of the power station, state-owned China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN), said in a statement on Sunday evening that "the environmental indicators of Taishan Nuclear Power Plant and its surroundings are normal". It did not reference any leak or incident at the power station, which it said meets "the requirements of nuclear safety regulations and power plant technical specifications." The International Atomic Energy Agency, a UN body, said it had contacted its counterpart in China regarding the issue. "At this stage, the Agency has no indication that a radiological incident occurred," the IAEA said in a statement, adding that it would share more information "as it becomes available". If the problem is a cracked fuel rod, said Fishman, it would have to be logged by the Chinese nuclear safety administration with a mitigation report to fix the problem. What's more, "if (Framatome) were going to transfer over any information that they have gotten from working in the US, they would have to apply for an exemption... because CGN is on the US entity list," he added. "It is a no-fly zone for any US information, any information or data or technology or IP to go to China." Powered up in 2018, the Taishan plant was the first worldwide to operate a next-generation EPR nuclear reactor, a pressurised water design that has been subject to years of delays in similar European projects in Britain, France and Finland. There are now two EPR power units at the plant in the city of Taishan, which sits close to the coastline of southern Guangdong -- China's most populous province. EPR reactors have been touted as promising advances in safety and efficiency over conventional reactors while producing less waste. Nuclear plants supplied less than five percent of China's annual electricity needs in 2019, according to the National Energy Administration, but this share is expected to grow as Beijing attempts to become carbon neutral by 2060. China has 47 nuclear plants with a total generation capacity of 48.75 gigawatts, the world's third-highest after the United States and France and has invested billions of dollars to develop its nuclear energy sector. Last month Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping launched work on Russian-built nuclear power plants in China. (With inputs from agencies)

Potential leak in China nuclear plant facing 'performance issue': Report

The US Department of Defence says that China is expected to at least double its nuclear warheads over the next 10 years.

Gravitas: Pentagon: China wants to double its nuclear warheads