China's Expanding Long-Range Missiles: Pentagon Raises Alarming Warning in Comprehensive Report
China's military capabilities pose a significant concern as the Pentagon warns about their expanding long-range missile arsenal, potentially equipped with over 500 nuclear warheads A major report reveals China's growing ambitions to develop conventionally-armed missiles capable of reaching the United States
The Pentagon's recent report suggests that China's military capabilities are advancing at a rapid pace, surpassing previous estimates. It is believed that China currently possesses over 500 operational nuclear warheads and may be exploring the development of long-range missiles capable of reaching the United States. This signifies China's commitment to modernizing its military and using it as a tool to assert its power not only in the Pacific region but also globally. Their efforts focus on enhancing their capabilities across various domains of warfare, including land, air, sea, nuclear, cyber, and space.
According to the Defense Department's annual 2023 China Military Power report, Beijing has recently finished constructing three additional long-range ballistic missile silos, expanding its capabilities to deploy nuclear warheads from multiple platforms. This development has raised significant concerns among senior defense officials. The official expressed the desire for China to exhibit more transparency regarding its nuclear buildup and engage in discussions with regard to strategic stability and risk reduction.
China is reportedly employing advanced reactors and processing facilities in its quest to obtain plutonium for its nuclear weapons program, despite publicly asserting that these technologies are solely for peaceful endeavors.
Under its latest National Defense Strategy, the US has identified China as its foremost rival, capable of matching America in terms of military strength, economic influence, and global presence. China presently maintains a standing army of over one million personnel, possesses the largest naval fleet in the world in terms of ship count, and boasts the most substantial air force in its region.
China's assertive use of military power extends beyond its claims of sovereignty in the South China Sea, including Taiwan. In 2022, China's military escalated its aggressive actions towards Taiwan, such as conducting ballistic missile overflights, flying military aircraft into Taiwan's aerial identification zone, and engaging in large-scale exercises near the independent island territory. Despite Chinese President Xi Jinping stating his intention to achieve peaceful unification with Taiwan, he has not abandoned the possibility of utilizing military force to accomplish this objective.
This increasing aggression is not solely directed towards Taiwan or neighboring countries in China.
Chinese military pilots have increasingly engaged in "coercive and dangerous" actions towards US aircraft flying over the East and South China seas in the past two years, with more than 180 incidents reported. Some of these incidents involved Chinese jets coming within a mere 20 feet of US military aircraft. Ely Ratner, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs, stated that this is a deliberate and coordinated effort to intimidate and influence US operational activities.
US defense officials are still frustrated by China's refusal to participate in high-level military-to-military discussions. However, a defense official confirmed on Wednesday that there is ongoing communication at the working level.
"We recently briefed the PLA defense attache on the unclassified summary of our cyber strategy," the official stated. "Additionally, Admiral Aquilino, the INDOPACOM Commander, had a meeting with a deputy chief of the PLAs Joint Staff Department in Fiji. Nevertheless, it is crucial for us to establish consistent and transparent lines of communication at all levels, including the highest levels of leadership."
