London, February 3 (NationPress) During the recent trip of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to China, talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping notably sidestepped discussions about Beijing's alarming, undisclosed, and swift expansion of its nuclear arsenal, along with pressing matters like human rights violations, espionage, and the Taiwan issue, according to a report released on Tuesday.

Referencing the 2025 report from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sipri), an article in The Guardian highlighted that while China, possessing an estimated 600 nuclear warheads, still trails behind other nuclear nations, it is rapidly advancing its capabilities.

“China’s nuclear stockpile is expanding at a rate unmatched by any other nation, increasing by approximately 100 new warheads annually since 2023 ... [It] could potentially match or exceed the number of ICBMs [intercontinental ballistic missiles] held by either Russia or the US by the end of this decade,” The Guardian reported, citing Sipri.

The article noted that Beijing has not provided any justification for this substantial escalation and has dismissed any calls for multilateral arms control negotiations.

In a white paper published by China in November, it reiterated its stance that countries with the largest nuclear arsenals must take the initiative by unilaterally enacting ‘drastic and substantial reductions’. Until that occurs, China will maintain its nuclear capabilities 'at the minimum level necessary for national security'. The document, however, conveniently failed to specify what that level is,” it stated.

Despite its advantages, the report indicated that the US remains apprehensive, with the Pentagon warning in December that “China’s historic military buildup has rendered the US homeland increasingly vulnerable.”

The Pentagon also pointed out what it termed a more aggressive, “hair-trigger” nuclear readiness posture, asserting that around 100 ICBMs were recently positioned in silos across northern China. Furthermore, it indicated that Beijing is testing its ability “to target US forces in the Pacific,” which could jeopardize future US military support for Taiwan.

“China anticipates being capable of engaging in and winning a conflict over Taiwan by the conclusion of 2027,” The Guardian cited the Pentagon as stating.

The report continued, “Regardless of what China’s President is contemplating, these are precarious times for anyone concerned about the prospect of global thermonuclear conflict – a concern that should resonate universally. Starmer’s discussions with Xi allegedly touched upon threats to UK national security. What greater threat exists than the proliferation of nuclear arms? Yet, as far as is known, he did not address this matter.”