China's Nuclear Buildup Near Arunachal: India's Growing Concerns

• Satellite imagery reveals China's accelerated nuclear weapons program expansion in Sichuan province, 800 km from Arunachal Pradesh.
• China's nuclear stockpile, now the world's third largest, is projected to exceed 1,000 warheads by 2030, raising global stability concerns.
• Zitong Valley shows new construction for high-explosive testing and warhead development, while Pingtong Valley focuses on plutonium pit production.
• The inland location of these facilities reduces vulnerability to US strikes, but their proximity to India's eastern frontier raises strategic implications for New Delhi.
• India must factor China's confident and capable nuclear posture into its long-term defense planning, alongside ongoing border challenges.