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Why has China doubled its nuclear capacity in the last decade?

NPR | By Emily Feng,
Hannah Bloch, Daniel Ofman
Published May 10, 2026 at 5:04 PM EDT

For decades, China pared back its nuclear weapons program and kept its arsenal to a minimum. Now, new satellite images show China is rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal and production sites. Why?

Copyright 2026 NPR
NPR News
Emily Feng
Emily Feng is NPR's Beijing correspondent.
See stories by Emily Feng
Hannah Bloch
Hannah Bloch is lead digital editor on NPR's international desk, overseeing the work of NPR correspondents and freelance journalists around the world.
See stories by Hannah Bloch
Daniel Ofman
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