MOSCOW, October 25. /TASS/. China is a sovereign country and is taking steps to build up its nuclear capabilities based on the security situation in the region, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

He said these moves by Beijing do not concern Moscow.

"No, it does not cause us any concern. We have relations of advanced strategic partnership, we have an advanced stage of political dialogue and economic collaboration. In this case, China, which faces very serious security threats in the region, is taking the steps it considers appropriate," the spokesman said. "This is absolutely the sovereign right of this country."

According to the Pentagon's recent annual report on China's military power, the country’s nuclear arsenal includes more than 500 operationally deployed warheads, and their number could exceed 1,000 by 2030. According to the report, the pace with which China is expanding its nuclear arsenal exceeds US forecasts, as it had 100 fewer warheads in 2022.