China Rapidly Expanding Its Nuclear Arsenal, India on Alert: U.S. Intelligence Report

A new report from a U.S. intelligence agency says that China is quickly building up its military power and could have more than 1,000 nuclear weapons by the year 2030. The report also says that India sees China as its biggest threat, and is making important defense decisions because of this.

According to the report, titled Worldwide Threat Assessment, China is preparing itself to become a major power in Asia. It is increasing military pressure on nearby regions like Taiwan and the Philippines, and is also trying to challenge the United States’ global leadership in areas like trade, diplomacy, and security.

China’s Defense Spending Is Rising

In 2025, China officially announced a military budget of $247 billion, which is a 5.2% increase from before. But the report says the actual spending could be even higher—between $304 billion and $377 billion—when including unofficial spending.

Right now, China is believed to have over 600 nuclear warheads, and that number is expected to cross 1,000 by 2030. The report says China will likely continue growing its military strength at least until 2035.

Pakistan’s Military Buildup Also Noted

The report also talks about Pakistan, saying the country is still getting strong support from China. Even with this support, Pakistan sees India as a major threat and is trying to modernize its military and build more nuclear weapons to keep up with India.