China Shows Off Nuclear Ambitions With Expanding Missile Arsenal

China revealed the scope of its nuclear weapon ambitions to the world this week when it rolled two new gigantic intercontinental ballistic missile designs through the streets of Beijing during the World War II anniversary parade.

In the extensive parade line-up, which showed off a variety of air-launched, sea-launched and ground-based nuclear weapons, the DF-5C and DF-61 stood out not just for their size but for what they say about China’s plans to build its nuclear arsenal, which the Pentagon estimated last year would reach 1,000 warheads by 2030.