Key insights of Pentagon’s China military report

China's expanding arsenal

According to the Pentagon's report, China's arsenal currently comprises more than 500 operational nuclear warheads. Moreover, it predicts that by 2030, this number may surpass 1,000 warheads. This represents a significant increase from a previous Pentagon estimate in 2021, which indicated over 400 operational nuclear warheads.

Growing intercontinental reach

The report highlights China's development of three new silo fields in 2022, potentially housing around 300 new Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) silos. Furthermore, China is exploring the development of conventionally armed intercontinental-range missile systems, a capability that could potentially pose a threat to the United States.

Expanding global footprint

China has been extending its global military presence, though it still lags behind the United States in terms of bases. The report suggests that China is contemplating establishing military logistics facilities in several countries, including Burma, Thailand, Indonesia, United Arab Emirates, Kenya, Nigeria, Namibia, Mozambique, Bangladesh, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Tajikistan.

Naval dominance

China's navy has already secured its status as the world's largest, with a fleet exceeding 370 ships and submarines, up from 340 in the previous year's report. The Pentagon anticipates further growth, projecting a fleet size of 395 ships by 2025 and 435 ships by 2030.

Evacuation request in Sudan

While the report underscores China's general reluctance to engage in military-to-military talks with the United States, it also highlights a notable exception. In April 2023, China's military requested U.S. assistance in evacuating Chinese diplomats from Khartoum, Sudan. The U.S. military provided evacuation routes, demonstrating a rare instance of cooperation between the two military powers.