Advertisement Possible ICBM launch control center Planet Labs/Center for Nonproliferation Studies at MIIS The report follows one published in February from Federation of American Scientists researcher Hans Kristensen, who observed that China was constructing a number of additional ballistic missile silos in part of central China. Lewis told the Post that "if the silos under construction at other sites across China are added to the count, the total comes to about 145 silos under construction." The belief, he said, is that "China is expanding its nuclear forces in part to maintain a deterrent that can survive a US first strike in sufficient numbers to defeat US missile defenses."