China’s planned military expansion to Africa is a source of concern to the United States, which has seen its presence in West Africa substantially cut, according to a Pentagon report.

Kenya in East Africa and Nigeria in West Africa rank high on the list of countries the Pentagon report says is being considered as one of about 10 military outposts China plans to set up to neutralise longstanding US influence on the continent as the two economic superpowers intensify the tussle for natural resources.

The other countries are Kenya, Nigeria, Namibia, Mozambique. With already a military base in Djibouti  in the Horn of Africa and Equatorial Guinea in West Africa, China also has military presence in the Democratic Republic of Congo and host of other countries in the Sahel region.

The Pentagon this week released its annual report on China’s military, which touches on wide-ranging issues related to some of the most important developments in China’s national security over the past year. Here are some key highlights:

Nuclear weapons

China has more than 500 operational nuclear warheads in its arsenal and will probably have over 1,000 warheads by 2030, the report said.

In a previous report, the Pentagon estimated that Beijing had more than 400 operational nuclear warheads in 2021. If he sticks it out, then the way to get rid of him would be a vote of no confidence in the House of Commons, the Parliament.

Missiles

The report said China probably completed the construction of its three new silo fields in 2022, which has at least 300 new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) silos.

The report said China may be exploring developing conventionally armed intercontinental-range missile systems, which, if developed, could allow Beijing to threaten the United States.

Overseas basing

China has been expanding its global military footprint, although it is still much smaller than the United States’ network of bases.

The report says China has also probably considered having military logistics facilities in countries like Burma, Thailand, Indonesia, United Arab Emirates, Kenya, Nigeria, Namibia, Mozambique, Bangladesh, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Tajikistan.

Ships

China already has the world’s largest navy – and it is growing further the report said.

China’s navy had more than 370 ships and submarines, up from the 340 ships they had in last year’s report. The expectation, the report added, is for the number to increase to 395 ships by 2025 and 435 ships by 2030.

US assistance

While the report said China has generally ignored or denied the United States’ efforts to have military-to-military talks, it described an occasion when Beijing required US assistance.

In April 2023, the Chinese military requested US assistance in evacuating Chinese diplomats from Khartoum, Sudan. The U.S. military, the report said, provided evacuation routes.

• A Reuters report