The assessment comes amid growing concerns in Washington about China’s military ambitions and the rapid build-up of its strategic weapons arsenal
A new draft Pentagon report suggests that China has reportedly loaded more than 100 intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) into silo fields near its border with Mongolia, as per an exclusive Reuters report.
The assessment comes amid growing concerns in Washington about China’s military ambitions and the rapid build-up of its
strategic weapons arsenal.
The report, which has not yet been finalised and could change before it is sent to lawmakers, points to an increase in solid-fuelled DF-31 ICBMs placed in three separate missile silo fields. These developments add to long-standing debates about China’s intentions and its reluctance to engage in deeper arms control discussions with the United States and other nuclear powers.
China expanding nuclear force
According to the Pentagon document, China’s efforts to modernise and expand its nuclear forces are proceeding faster than those of any other nuclear-armed country. China already has an estimated 600 nuclear warheads, and the Pentagon projects that figure could top 1,000 by 2030 if the current trajectory continues.
The report notes that China has likely deployed more than 100 solid-fuelled DF-31 ICBMs across three silo fields, which were previously known to exist but had not been publicly assessed for the number of armed missiles. Overall, the document says, China’s silo fields and modernisation efforts reflect a deeper and broader nuclear strategy.
China’s embassy in Washington has not immediately responded to requests for comment on the draft report by Reuters, which also includes projections about future strategic capabilities and potential threats posed by China’s growing missile arsenal.
No appetite for arms control
The Pentagon report also suggests that Beijing currently shows “no appetite” for pursuing arms control talks on the scale sought by US leaders, including President Donald Trump, who has advocated for denuclearisation discussions with China, Russia and North Korea. “We continue to see no appetite from Beijing for pursuing such measures or more comprehensive arms control discussions,” the report says.
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That stance comes despite ongoing efforts by the United States to revive diplomatic engagement on nuclear stability. Reports indicate that China’s leadership has described coverage of its military build-up as attempts to “smear and defame China and deliberately mislead the international community.”
The draft report does not explicitly identify specific targets for the newly loaded missiles. However, it reflects wider strategic worries in Washington about Beijing’s ability to project power far beyond its region and, potentially, challenge US forces or interests in the Asia-Pacific.
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