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China is likely to have deployed more than 100 intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) across three silo fields near its border with Mongolia, according to a draft Pentagon report that underscores Beijing’s rapidly expanding nuclear capabilities and its apparent lack of interest in arms control talks.
The draft report, seen by Reuters, says China is expanding and modernising its weapons stockpile faster than any other nuclear-armed power, while showing little interest in arms control discussions with the United States or other major powers.
“We continue to see no appetite from Beijing for pursuing such measures or more comprehensive arms control discussions,” the report said.
The Pentagon had previously disclosed the existence of the silo fields but had not confirmed how many missiles were operationally deployed. The report said the silos were likely loaded with solid-fuelled DF-31 ICBMs, significantly enhancing China’s strategic nuclear posture.
Beijing, however, has consistently rejected claims of a military buildup, describing such assessments as attempts to “smear and defame China and deliberately mislead the international community.”
Despite recent remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump suggesting he may be working on a plan to denuclearise with China and Russia, the Pentagon assessment found no indication that Beijing is inclined to engage in arms control discussions.
The Pentagon report said China’s nuclear warhead stockpile stood in the “low 600s” in 2024, reflecting a slower rate of production compared with previous years. However, it added that China remains on track to possess more than 1,000 nuclear warheads by 2030.
The report did not identify potential targets for the newly deployed missiles. U.S. officials cautioned that the draft could still change before it is formally submitted to Congress.
Beyond nuclear forces, the wide-ranging report detailed China’s broader military build up, particularly in relation to Taiwan. It said Beijing expects to be capable of fighting and winning a war over Taiwan by 2027.
China regards democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory and has never renounced the use of force to bring the island under its control.
According to the report, China is refining military options to seize Taiwan by “brute force,” including the possibility of long-range strikes between 1,500 and 2,000 nautical miles from the Chinese mainland.
“In sufficient volume, these strikes could seriously challenge and disrupt U.S. presence in or around a conflict in the Asia-Pacific region,” the report said.
Team BharatShakti
Dr Ravi Shankar has over two decades of experience in communications, print journalism, electronic media, documentary film making and new media.
He makes regular appearances on national television news channels as a commentator and analyst on current and political affairs. Apart from being an acknowledged Journalist, he has been a passionate newsroom manager bringing a wide range of journalistic experience from past associations with India’s leading media conglomerates (Times of India group and India Today group) and had led global news-gathering operations at world’s biggest multimedia news agency- ANI-Reuters. He has covered Parliament extensively over the past several years. Widely traveled, he has covered several summits as part of media delegation accompanying the Indian President, Vice President, Prime Minister, External Affairs Minister and Finance Minister across Asia, Africa and Europe.
