Pentagon Report Warns China Aims for 1,000 Nuclear Warheads, Eyes Possible Taiwan Attack by 2027

Pentagon report says China is rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal toward 1,000 warheads while preparing military options for a potential Taiwan attack by 2027.

A Pentagon draft report reviewed by Reuters indicates that China has deployed over 100 intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) in three new silo fields and is on track to field more than 1,000 nuclear warheads by 2030. The report also warns that Beijing could attempt a military operation against Taiwan by 2027.

The draft, obtained by Reuters, notes that China has rapidly expanded and modernized its nuclear arsenal faster than any other nuclear power. Beijing has dismissed such reports as “disinformation intended to mislead the international community” and insists it maintains a “self-defensive nuclear strategy” and a no-first-use policy.

China’s new silo fields, reportedly near the border with Mongolia, house DF-31 solid-fuel ICBMs. Each silo allows a missile to remain on high alert, controlled by remote command centers. Pentagon officials had previously reported the silos’ existence but did not confirm the number of deployed missiles.

The report also highlights Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption campaign targeting the People’s Liberation Army, which has affected procurement and defense companies. While this may temporarily slow operational readiness, analysts say it is intended to improve long-term military efficiency and modernization.

The Pentagon draft warns that China has refined military options for forcibly reclaiming Taiwan and could conduct operations up to 1,500–2,000 nautical miles from its mainland. Any Chinese attack would likely complicate U.S. military presence and response in the region.

President Trump previously advocated restarting U.S. nuclear testing, though no formal plan has been announced. Past administrations, including Trump’s first term and President Biden’s, have tried to involve China and Russia in negotiations to replace the New START treaty with a trilateral arms control framework.

The New START treaty, signed in 2010 between the U.S. and Russia, limits strategic nuclear warheads to 1,550 and delivery systems to 700. With the treaty expiring in February 2026, experts warn of a potential new arms race.

Analysts say China’s nuclear expansion, coupled with its growing conventional capabilities, represents a significant strategic shift in East Asia, potentially altering the balance of power and complicating U.S. defense planning in the region.

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