Key facts
- China's nuclear warhead stockpile grew by 20 warheads in the past year.
- China's total nuclear warhead count reached 620 as of January 2026.
- A SIPRI report indicates major global powers are moving away from disarmament commitments.
China has expanded its nuclear warhead stockpile over the past year, potentially increasing the number deployed with operational forces, according to a report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). The think tank's latest yearbook, released on Monday, stated that China added 20 warheads to its stockpile as of January 2026, bringing the total to 620, an increase from 600 a year prior. SIPRI warned that major global powers are increasingly "walking away" from their disarmament commitments.