China Growing Nuclear Stockpile at Fastest Rate, Says Report

The number of China’s nuclear warheads grew by 20 percent in the past year, according to SIPRI.

China's DF-41 nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missiles are seen during a military parade at Tiananmen Square in Beijing to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China on Oct. 1, 2019. Greg Baker/AFP via Getty Images

China is still increasing the number of its nuclear warheads faster than any other country in the world, according to a new report published on June 16.

Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), which publishes a long-running yearbook on armaments, arms control, and conflicts, estimated that China has at least 600 nuclear warheads as of January 2025.