China has voiced serious concerns following a report that the United States has approved a nuclear strategic plan focusing on China’s rapidly expanding nuclear arsenal.

“The U.S. is peddling the China nuclear threat narrative, finding excuses to seek strategic advantage,” said a spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry.

“China is seriously concerned about the relevant report, and the facts have fully proved that the United States has constantly stirred up the so-called China nuclear threat theory in recent years,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said during a regular press briefing.

The White House responded to the concerns by stating on Tuesday that the classified nuclear strategic plan approved by President Biden is not aimed at any single country or threat. However, U.S. officials have consistently highlighted China’s expanding nuclear capabilities as a significant concern.

An annual Pentagon report released last October indicated that China had more than 500 operational nuclear warheads in its arsenal and projected that this number could exceed 1,000 by 2030. The rapid expansion of China’s nuclear forces has been a focal point in U.S. defense strategy, prompting calls for the U.S. to adapt its nuclear posture to address emerging threats from multiple adversaries.

The tensions over nuclear capabilities come at a time of heightened strategic competition between the U.S. and China, with both nations engaging in a broader struggle for influence in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond. The latest developments underscore the deepening rivalry and the potential risks associated with nuclear escalation in a multipolar world.