China's Missile Push: Pentagon Report Flags Over 100 ICBMs, No Arms Talks From Beijing

New Delhi: China has likely placed more than 100 intercontinental ballistic missiles in newly built silo fields near its northern border, a draft US Pentagon report says. The document suggests China is speeding up its nuclear weapons development while shunning major arms control negotiations with Washington. 

"We continue to see no appetite from Beijing for pursuing such measures or more comprehensive arms control discussions," the report said.

What Does the Pentagon Report Say?

According to the assessment reviewed by Reuters, China has probably deployed over 100 solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) across three silo fields close to Mongolia. These missiles, known as DF-31s, give China the capacity to strike targets at great distances. 

The report marks the first time the Pentagon has suggested that these silos are not just built but actively loaded with missiles, reinforcing concerns about the scale of China’s nuclear buildup. Officials say the nation's nuclear warhead stockpile was in the low 600s by 2024, and could exceed 1,000 by 2030 if current trends continue. 

Is China Interested in Arms Control Talks?

The draft report underlines that China shows little interest in broader arms control discussions with the US. Pentagon analysts said Beijing has not engaged seriously in negotiating limits or transparency measures, even as the global nuclear landscape shifts. 

Officials added that the US effort to pursue denuclearisation talks, with Russia and China, may not gain traction, given China’s current posture. 

How Has China Responded?

China has dismissed the report’s findings. Its embassy in Washington said the country maintains a 'defensive nuclear policy', keeps its arsenal at the minimum needed for security, and adheres to a no-first-use pledge. Beijing also accused the US of trying to mislead the international community with exaggerated claims. 

Could This Affect Global Arms Control?

The report arrives months before the 2010 New START treaty between the US and Russia is set to expire. With that pact lapsing and China not part of the framework, defence experts warn of a possible three-way nuclear arms race involving the world's major powers. 

What Comes Next?

The Pentagon draft has yet to be finalised and could change before it's formally submitted to US lawmakers. But its preliminary findings have already renewed global debate on nuclear weapons limits, strategic stability, and the future of arms control.