China Deploys 100+ Intercontinental Missiles Near Mongolia Border, Pentagon Reports

China has loaded more than 100 intercontinental ballistic missiles into three newly constructed silo fields near its border with Mongolia, according to a draft Pentagon report viewed by Reuters. The assessment highlights Beijing’s accelerating military buildup, describing China as expanding and modernizing its nuclear forces faster than any other nuclear-armed power.

The Pentagon declined to comment on the report when contacted by news outlets. Chinese officials have repeatedly dismissed similar findings as attempts to “smear and defame China and deliberately mislead the international community.”

While U.S. President Donald Trump recently expressed interest in pursuing denuclearization discussions with China and Russia, the Pentagon report concluded that Beijing shows little appetite for such engagement. “We continue to see no appetite from Beijing for pursuing such measures or more comprehensive arms control discussions,” the report stated.

According to the assessment, China has likely deployed over 100 solid-fueled DF-31 intercontinental ballistic missiles into silo fields near the Mongolian border. Although the Pentagon had previously disclosed the existence of these silo fields, it had not publicly estimated how many missiles had been placed inside them. The report did not identify potential targets for these newly deployed missiles.

China’s nuclear warhead stockpile remained in the low 600s in 2024, reflecting what the report described as a slower production rate compared to previous years. Nevertheless, Beijing remains on track to exceed 1,000 nuclear warheads by 2030, representing a significant expansion of its nuclear capabilities.

While China maintains it adheres to a nuclear strategy of self-defense and a no-first-use policy, analysts suggest Beijing’s public messaging increasingly contradicts that restraint.

“For a country that still advocates a policy of ‘no-first use,’ China has become increasingly comfortable showcasing its nuclear arsenal, including parading its nuclear triad together for the first time in September,” said Jack Burnham, a senior research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.

Burnham added that Beijing’s rejection of arms control talks reflects the pace of its weapons construction. “China has no interest in locking in a long-term strategic disadvantage, and every intention of building an arsenal on par with its perceived place in the world, alongside and potentially eventually ahead of the United States,” he explained.

The Pentagon report also warned that China expects to be able to fight and win a war over Taiwan by the end of 2027. Beijing claims the self-governed island as its own territory and has never ruled out using force to bring it under its control. The assessment indicates that China is refining options to seize Taiwan by “brute force,” including developing capabilities for long-range strikes up to 2,000 nautical miles from the mainland that could disrupt U.S. military operations in the Asia-Pacific region.

These developments come as the 2010 New START treaty, the last remaining nuclear arms control agreement between the United States and Russia, approaches expiration. The treaty limits both sides to 1,550 deployed strategic nuclear warheads.

Some analysts expressed surprise at the relatively modest number of missiles deployed given China’s construction activity. “What is surprising is that China has now loaded only about 100 of the silos it has built recently,” said Gordon Chang. “That’s an indication money is tight in the People’s Liberation Army.”

Chang cautioned against extending the New START treaty without Beijing’s participation. “This is no time for the U.S. to agree to an extension of the New START Treaty with Russia,” he said. “Russia and China are de-facto allies, and they are ganging up on America. Without China in a deal — Beijing has flatly rejected every nuclear arms-control initiative of the U.S. — no treaty can be in America’s interest.”

The findings underscore growing concerns about strategic stability in an era where traditional arms control frameworks are under increasing strain, and China continues to build its military capabilities with limited transparency.