Amid increasing tensions between the US and China over a range of issues, China is trying to at least double its number of nuclear warheads in the next decade.
According to a new Pentagon report released Tuesday, China's military has already equaled or surpassed the United States in a series of key areas.
Beijing has made major strides in areas such as shipbuilding, the development of ballistic and cruise missiles, and integrated air defense systems.
China continues to boost its military spending at a rate that exceeds Chinese economic growth.
CNN reports that's enabled Chinese defense spending to dwarf that of other countries in the region.
The Trump administration has long sought to include China in its nuclear arms control talks with Russia. However, Beijing has so far resisted.