China is likely planning to double its stockpile of nuclear warheads in this decade, including those designed for ballistic missiles and that can reach the U.S., the Pentagon said in a report Tuesday. Even so, China’s nuclear force would be dwarfed by that of the U.S., which has an estimated 3,800 warheads ready for action and more in reserve, according to the report. China currently has nuclear warheads in the “low-200s,” but is nearing the ability to launch nuclear strikes by air, land, and sea. This is the first time the U.S. military has disclosed China’s nuclear warhead count. As of now, it keeps its nuclear warheads stored separately from its missiles and launchers and would need warning to prepare them for war.

Source: Fox News September 01, 2020 17:26 UTC