Pentagon draft report reveals China deployed over 100 ICBMs near Mongolia

According to a draft Pentagon report obtained by Reuters, the Chinese administration has deployed more than 100 intercontinental ballistic missiles to three silo fields near the Mongolian border.

The document emphasizes that Beijing is expanding and modernizing its nuclear arsenal faster than any other nuclear power, noting that Chinese officials have shown no interest in arms control negotiations.

The report records that the missiles in question are DF-31 solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missiles deployed in silos in northern China.

The Pentagon had previously announced the existence of these silos but had not shared information regarding how many missiles were loaded into them.

While the draft document does not specify potential targets for the missiles, US officials emphasized to Reuters that the content of the report could change before being officially presented to Congress.

Doors closed to nuclear negotiations

The draft report points out that despite discussions regarding potential nuclear disarmament initiatives, Beijing is unwilling to participate in such processes.

US President Donald Trump mentioned last month the possibility of working together with China and Russia on a nuclear disarmament plan.

However, the Pentagon assesses that Chinese leaders in Washington remain distant from such negotiations.

The document states, “We continue to see that Beijing is unwilling to take such measures or participate in more comprehensive arms control talks.”

According to Pentagon data, China’s stockpile of nuclear warheads was slightly above 600 in 2024.

Although the report notes that this figure reflects a slower production rate compared to previous years, it emphasizes that the country’s nuclear expansion continues and that Beijing plans to increase its warhead stockpile to over 1,000 by 2030.

“2027 target” claim for Taiwan

In the section of the report dedicated to Taiwan, it is claimed that the Chinese military will be ready for an operation against the island by the end of 2027 and aims to achieve victory.

According to the US military, China is developing scenarios to seize the island, which it claims as its own territory, through “brute force.” These scenarios include the possibility of launching attacks from a distance of approximately 2,800 to 3,700 kilometers (1,500 to 2,000 nautical miles) from its own territory.

The report warns that if such attacks occur in sufficient numbers, they could seriously weaken and destabilize the US presence in the conflict zone within the Asia-Pacific region.

Reuters pointed out that the release of the report comes less than two months before the expiration of the New START treaty (Treaty on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms), the last active Russian-American agreement in this field, dating back to 2010.

The document in question stipulates that both sides deploy a maximum of 1,550 strategic nuclear warheads on 700 delivery vehicles.

Responding to the Pentagon’s findings, the Chinese side argued that it adheres to a “nuclear self-defense strategy” and a no-first-use policy.

Beijing characterized the reports of a military buildup as an attempt to “smear and slander China” and deliberately mislead the international community.