China’s Military Buildup Leaves US Vulnerable, Pentagon Warns

Despite the expansion, China’s military remains riddled with corruption, and an ongoing purge may affect its short-term nuclear readiness, the Pentagon says.

DF-31BJ intercontinental ballistic missile during a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, in Tiananmen Square, Beijing, on Sept. 3, 2025. Greg Baker/AFP via Getty Images

China’s military is undergoing a massive nuclear expansion and remains on track to have as many as 100 nuclear warheads by the end of 2030, despite a slowdown in production last year, according to the Pentagon’s latest assessment of the country’s armed forces.

“China’s historic military buildup has made the U.S. homeland increasingly vulnerable,” the Pentagon said in an annual report submitted to Congress on Dec. 23.