China expected to have more than 1,000 nuclear warheads by 2030, Defense Department estimates

China is expected to double its nuclear arsenal by 2030 with more than 1,000 operational warheads, putting the communist country on the path to exceed previous expectations, according to a Defense Department report released Thursday.

The Pentagon estimates that in May 2023, Beijing possessed more than 500 operational nuclear warheads, which is roughly 100 more than it had last year, according to the Defense Department's annual China Military Power Report.

The report also warns that China "likely possesses capabilities relevant to chemical and biological warfare that pose a threat to U.S., Allied, and partner forces, military operations, and civilian populations."

Additionally, China is "almost certainly" learning from Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and is likely amplifying its push for self-sufficiency, according to the report.

The United States still possesses significantly more nuclear warheads, with a total inventory of 5,244, according to the Federation of American Scientists.

The report comes as the U.S.-China relationship is particularly tense. This was highlighted earlier this year after a suspected Chinese spy balloon flew over much of the continental United States. 

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