Söder noted that China is currently believed to have more than 200 active nuclear warheads.

At the same time, it was still believed that Chinese nuclear weapons were aimed at ensuring that the country had the means only for strategic deterrence, he stressed.

“However, it seems that the situation is changing and China is not only modernizing its nuclear weapons, but also producing new charges.

As noted in the report of the US Department of Defense for 2020, China will double its nuclear arsenal in the next decade, ”the parliamentarian said.

He suggested that the need to contain China will increase.

Söder also drew attention to the policies in the same area of ​​other states, in particular the "democratic" United States and Great Britain.

Thus, he noted that Washington and London consider it necessary to modernize their nuclear weapons stockpiles.

In the case of Britain, we are talking about plans to expand the nuclear arsenal to "contain hostile nuclear powers," the Swedish MP added.

Söder expressed the opinion that support for the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), "which has not found understanding among any nuclear power or NATO member," in the current strategic environment "undermines the position of democracies in opposing such dictatorships as Russia and China."

Against this background, the deputy asked Linda whether the minister believes that Sweden should still be an observer in the framework of this treaty, "given that China is actively building up its forces in the nuclear field."

Earlier, the public organization "International Campaign to Eliminate Nuclear Weapons" prepared a report stating that the United States became the world leader in spending on nuclear weapons in 2020, spending $ 37.4 billion on it.

In China, only $ 10.1 billion was spent for these purposes, and in Russia - $ 8 billion.