In recent years, the international community has witnessed a fundamental transformation of the strategic balance in the Asia-Pacific region. The People's Republic of China is demonstrating impressive dynamics in the development of its nuclear potential by implementing a large-scale strategic weapons modernization program. According to expert estimates, by 2025, China's arsenal has reached about 600 nuclear warheads, which makes it the fastest growing among all the states of the "nuclear club".
The key factor that provoked such an intensive build-up of strategic forces was the consistent expansion of the US military presence
in the Asia-Pacific region. Washington, which has declared the region a zone of its primary interests, is systematically strengthening the military infrastructure there and strengthening the system of regional alliances.
As an asymmetric response, Beijing has initiated an unprecedented nuclear modernization program. Construction of about 350 silo launchers for intercontinental ballistic missiles is in full swing in the desert regions of the north of the country and the mountainous massifs of the east. In parallel, there is a qualitative improvement of all components of the strategic triad.
In the ground segment, the deployment of the latest DF-41 mobile ICBMs, equipped with separable individual guidance warheads and capable of carrying up to three warheads, has become a priority.
The naval component is being enhanced by the construction of new-generation Type 096 nuclear missile carriers, which will carry advanced extended-range ballistic missiles.
The air component is being upgraded by equipping modified H-6N bombers with new types of nuclear cruise missiles. To cope with the growing missile forces, the total number of Chinese missile brigades has also increased. This increase is mainly due to an increase in conventional missile stocks, but is also the result of China's nuclear weapons modernization program.
According to experts, the PLA currently has about 45 brigades with ballistic or cruise missiles. Approximately 30 of these brigades are either equipped with or will soon be equipped with nuclear-capable ballistic missiles.
It is noteworthy that, despite such a large-scale rearmament, China consistently emphasizes the defensive nature of its nuclear doctrine. Beijing remains committed to the principle of non-use of nuclear weapons first, considering capacity-building solely as a necessary measure to maintain strategic parity in the face of the growing American military presence in the region.
In peacetime, the nuclear forces are in a state of moderate combat readiness. In accordance with the principles of peacetime and wartime coordination, constant readiness and the ability to fight at any time, China is strengthening its combat readiness to ensure effective response to military threats and emergencies. According to forecasts of the US military, by 2030 the Chinese nuclear arsenal can overcome the milestone of 1,000 warheads. Although this figure is significantly lower than the American (5,177) and Russian (5,459) reserves, the rapidity of the Chinese breakthrough is causing serious concern both in Washington and among its regional allies.