China readies more than 100 long-range nuclear missiles in key launch sites before firing rockets directly at Taiwan

The US Department of War's findings, submitted to Congress, indicate these missiles have been positioned in underground silos.

Three remote locations house the launch facilities: Hami in Xinjiang, Yumen in Gansu, and Yulin in Inner Mongolia - alll in China's remote north.

Approximately 320 silos exist across these sites, but US officials assess that just over 100 currently contain missiles.

This arrangement may allow Beijing to move weapons between silos, creating a "shell game" to deceive potential enemies.

The DF-31 missiles use solid fuel, allowing them to be deployed rapidly and without the lengthy preparation required by older liquid-fuelled variants.

The weapons can travel approximately 6,800 miles, placing most of the United States and all of the UK within striking distance from Chinese launch positions.

Beijing demonstrated this capability in 2024 when it fired one such missile into the Pacific Ocean.

The test showed the weapon could traverse vast distances, landing near French Polynesia.

"China's historic military buildup has made the US homeland increasingly vulnerable," the Pentagon report warned.

"China maintains a large and growing arsenal of nuclear, maritime, conventional long-range strike, cyber, and space capabilities able to directly threaten Americans' security."

Pentagon officials believe this expansion forms part of China's ambition to possess over 1,000 nuclear warheads by 2030.

The report assessed that Beijing is preparing its military for a potential invasion or blockade of Taiwan by 2027.

Large-scale exercises have included practising long-range strikes that could target American forces attempting to intervene.

China's ultimate objective, according to the Department of War, is achieving superpower status by 2049 with a military capable of seizing Taiwan.

The Chinese Communist Party reportedly views maintaining power, economic growth, and territorial claims as its non-negotiable priorities.

In the short-term, observers are looking at Taiwan.

On Tuesday morning, Beijing fired rockets toward the island nation and deployed new amphibious assault ships alongside bomber aircraft and warships to encircle Taiwan entirely.

That marked the second day of "Justice Mission 2025", China's extensive war games aimed at rehearsing a complete blockade of Taiwan.

One senior Taiwanese security official told Reuters that their country is braced for whether China will fire missiles over Taiwan, as it did in 2022.

Beijing also looks to be using the exercises to practise striking land-based targets such as the American-made Himars rocket system, the source said.

in their December report, Pentagon officials said Beijing was growing frustrated with Washington's regional partnerships with Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines.

Though despite escalating tensions, a senior Department of War official told the Daily Mail that efforts are underway to reduce friction.

"President Trump seeks a stable peace, fair trade, and respectful relations with China. The Department of War will support the President's intent by opening a wider range of military-to-military communications with the People's Liberation Army and seeking other ways to make clear our peaceful intentions," the official said.

A 2024 Federation of American Scientists report counted more than 12,000 nuclear warheads across nine nations on Earth.

Russia and the United States together control roughly 88 per cent of global stockpiles.

China's current arsenal sits in the low 600s, with annual increases of approximately 100 warheads expected throughout this decade.