The Chinese government has been working for several years to modernize its military and increase the size and potency of its nuclear deterrent. According to a recent letter from the Pentagon’s Strategic Command to Congress, China now has surpassed the United States in intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launchers. Republican Armed Services Committee leaders said this “should serve as a wake-up call for the United States.”
Congressman Mike Rogers is the Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. Rep. Doug Lamborn is the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces. U.S. Senator Roger Wicker is the Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Sen. Deb Fischer is the Ranking Member of the Senate Subcommittee on Strategic Forces. The congressional leaders released a joint statement Tuesday in response to the news that China has surpassed the United States in the number of land-based fixed and mobile ICBM launchers. The FY22 NDAA requires that U.S. Strategic Command notify Congress when the number of ICBMs, nuclear warheads, or ICBM launchers in China surpasses the United States. Strategic Command gave that official notification to Congress just 12 days ago.
“The head of U.S. Strategic Command has informed us that China has surpassed the U.S. in the number of ICBM launchers – this should serve as a wake-up call for the United States,” Rogers and the other congressional leaders wrote. “It is not an understatement to say that the Chinese nuclear modernization program is advancing faster than most believed possible. We have no time to waste in adjusting our nuclear force posture to deter both Russia and China. This will have to mean higher numbers and new capabilities.”
In response to a December 5th letter from the congressional leaders, U.S. Air Force General Anthony Cotton wrote that the Chinese have surpassed the number of fixed and mobile ICBM launchers. The United States, however, still has more nuclear warheads and more ICBMs in the active inventory. A classified letter that provided more detail was also attached to this letter. Alabama Today and other media sources do not have access to that classified information.
Rogers wrote on Twitter, “China is rapidly approaching parity with the United States. We cannot allow that to happen. The time for us to adjust our force posture and increase capabilities to meet this threat is now.”
Global tensions have risen with the Russian invasion of Ukraine and American support for the Ukrainians. There are growing fears that Russia or the United States, or both, could break out of the new START arms control treaty limiting the number of ICBMs, launchers, and warheads the two nations can have. Tensions between China and the U.S. have risen over trade, concerns over human rights in China, and Chinese threats against Taiwan. A top U.S. Air Force general wrote recently that officers should expect a war with China in 2025. The Chinese balloon that intruded into American airspace and was shot down by a U.S. Air Force F22 on Saturday has only further raised tensions.
Rogers represents Alabama’s Third Congressional District. Rogers is in his eleventh term in Congress following previous services in the Alabama House of Representatives and on the Calhoun County Commission. Rogers is an attorney. He and his family reside in Saks.
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