China's nuclear expansion outpacing projected timelines, Pentagon report says

China has accelerated its production of nuclear warheads, and is significantly outpacing Pentagon estimates from last year, according to a Defense Department report released Wednesday. 

China could develop over 700 nuclear warheads by 2027 and likely intends to produce over 1,000 warheads by 2030, "exceeding the pace and size the [Department of Defense] projected in 2020," according to the department's annual report to Congress on Chinese Military Power. The report is based on its assessment of China's military developments in 2020.

The Defense Department's report last year estimated China would have over 400 nuclear warheads by 2030.