Pentagon Report Details China's Military Growth Despite Internal Challenges
NUCLEAR ARSENAL EXPANSION
Added about 100 warheads since last year
Current estimate exceeds 600 warheads
Projected to reach 1,000 by 2030
Construction of missile silos in northern desert
MILITARY CAPABILITIES
Navy expanding globally beyond East Asia
Developing conventional intercontinental ballistic missiles
320 new missile silos being built
Enhanced ability to target U.S. assets
CORRUPTION ISSUES
Two former defense ministers accused of bribery
Changes in missile force leadership
Limited impact on military advancement
Beijing's confidence in military leadership may be shaken
TAIWAN FOCUS
Military operations increased near Taiwan
Combined naval and air force pressure
Beijing maintains both peaceful and military options
Some limitations in urban warfare capabilities
U.S. RESPONSE
Expanding Asia-Pacific security partnerships
Deploying troops to strategic islands
Enhanced monitoring of Chinese facilities
Focus despite other global challenges
But the Pentagon report concluded that China is still some distance away from confident consideration of the invasion of Taiwan. According to the report, China has deficiencies in urban warfare, which may be necessary to seize Taiwanese cities, and China also has deficiencies in maintaining supplies at long distances.
According to the report, “ even if it is assumed that it can successfully land and break through Taiwan’s beachhead defense ”, for the Communist Party and Xi Jinping, an amphibious invasion of Taiwan will still constitute “ a major political and military risk ”.