China denies stockpiling 100 nuclear missiles in response to US

WISE NEWS PRESS / BEIJING, CHINA — DECEMBER 23, 2025

China's Foreign Ministry has dismissed international reports claiming that Beijing is stockpiling more than 100 new intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), asserting that its nuclear strength remains at the minimum level necessary for national defense.

Spokesperson Lin Jian stated during a regular press briefing in Beijing that the United States is using the narrative of a "Chinese nuclear threat" as a pretext to accelerate its own nuclear modernization and disrupt global strategic stability. Lin emphasized that China adheres to a "no-first-use" policy and is not engaged in an arms race with any other country.

Response to Pentagon's draft report

The denial follows a Reuters report on a draft Pentagon assessment alleging that China has deployed over 100 ICBMs in three new silo fields in the north of the country. "As the nation with the largest nuclear arsenal, the US should fulfill its primary responsibility by making substantial cuts to its own stockpile," Lin stated. Beijing maintains that its nuclear strategy remains defensive and that US accusations are a strategic distraction.

Rejecting the trilateral disarmament proposal

The reports also suggested that Beijing is unwilling to participate in the trilateral nuclear disarmament talks proposed by US President Donald Trump involving the US and Russia. Chinese officials reiterated that their nuclear capacity is significantly lower than that of the US or Russia, making such a proposal "unreasonable." According to SIPRI data, while Russia holds 5,580 and the US holds 5,044 nuclear warheads, China's arsenal is estimated to be slightly above 600.

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