Second Artillery Corps ( China ) The Second Artillery Corps ( SAC ) ( ) is the strategic missile forces of the People ' s Republic of China . The SAC is the component of the People ' s Liberation Army that controls China ' s nuclear ballistic and conventional missiles . China ' s total nuclear arsenal size is estimated to be between 100 and 400 nuclear weapons in total , with about 180 of them actively deployed . The SAC comprises approximately 90 , 000 - 120 , 000 personnel and six ballistic missile brigade s . The six brigades are independently deployed in different military region s throughout the country . The Second Artillery Corps was established on 1 July 1966 and made its first public appearance on 1 October 1984 . The headquarters for operations is located at Qinghe . Second Artillery Corps is under the direct command of the Chinese Central Military Commission . History . In the late 1980s , China was the world ' s third - largest nuclear power , possessing a small but credible nuclear deterrent force of approximately 100 to 400 nuclear weapons . Beginning in the late 1970s , China deployed a full range of nuclear weapons and acquired a nuclear second - strike capability . The nuclear forces were operated by the 100 , 000 - person Strategic Missile Force , which was controlled directly by the General Staff Department . China began developing nuclear weapon s in the late 1950s with substantial Soviet assistance . When Sino - Soviet relations cooled in the late 1950s and early 1960s , the Soviet Union withheld plans and data for an atomic bomb , abrogated the agreement on transferring defense and nuclear technology , and began the withdrawal of Soviet advisers in 1960 . Despite the termination of Soviet assistance , China committed itself to continue nuclear weapons development to break " the superpowers ' monopoly on nuclear weapons , " to ensure Chinese security against the Soviet and United States threats , and to increase Chinese prestige and power internationally . China made fast progress in the 1960s in developing nuclear weapons . In a 32 month period , China successfully tested its first atomic bomb on October 16 , 1964 at Lop Nor , launched its first nuclear missile on October 25 , 1966 and detonated its first hydrogen bomb on June 14 , 1967 . Deployment of the Dongfeng - 1 conventionally armed short - range ballistic missile and the Dongfeng - 2 ( CSS - 1 ) medium - range ballistic missile ( MRBM ) occurred in the 1960s . The Dongfeng - 3 ( CCS - 2 ) intermediate - range ballistic missile ( IRBM ) was successfully tested in 1969 . Although the Cultural Revolution disrupted the strategic weapon s program less than other scientific and educational sectors in China , there was a slowdown in succeeding years . In the 1970s the nuclear weapons program saw the development of MRBM , IRBM and ICBM s and marked the beginning of a deterrent force . China continued MRBM deployment , began deploying the Dongfeng - 3 IRBM and successfully tested and commenced deployment of the Dongfeng - 4 ( CSS - 4 ) limited - range ICBM . By 1980 China had overcome the slowdown in nuclear development caused by the Cultural Revolution and had successes in its strategic weapons program . In 1980 China successfully test launched its full - range ICBM , the Dongfeng - 5 ( CCS - 4 ) ; the missile flew from central China to the Western Pacific , where it was recovered by a naval task force . The Dongfeng - 5 possessed the capability to hit targets in the western Soviet Union and the United States . In 1981 China launched three satellites into space orbit from a single booster , indicating that China might possess the technology to develop multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle s ( MIRVs ) . China also launched the Xia - class SSBN in 1981 , and the next year it conducted its first successful test launch of the CSS - NX - 4 submarine - launched ballistic missile . In addition to the development of a sea - based nuclear force , China began considering the development of tactical nuclear weapon s . PLA exercises featured the simulated use of tactical nuclear weapons in offensive and defensive situations beginning in 1982 . Reports of Chinese possession of tactical nuclear weapons had remained unconfirmed in 1987 . In 1986 China possessed a credible deterrent force with land , sea and air elements . Land - based forces included ICBMs , IRBMs , and MRBMs . The sea - based strategic force consisted of SSBNs . The Air Force ' s bomber s were capable of delivering nuclear bomb s but would be unlikely to penetrate the sophisticated air defense s of modern military powers such as the Soviet Union . China ' s nuclear forces , in combination with the PLA ' s conventional forces , served to deter both nuclear and conventional attacks on the Chinese lands . Chinese leaders pledged to not use nuclear weapons first ( " no first use " ) , but pledged to absolutely counter - attack with nuclear weapons if nuclear weapons are used against China . China envisioned retaliation against strategic and tactical attacks and would probably strike countervalue rather than counterforce targets . The combination of China ' s few nuclear weapons and technological factors such as range , accuracy , and response time limited the effectiveness of nuclear strikes against counterforce targets . China has been seeking to increase the credibility of its nuclear retaliatory capability by dispersing and concealing its nuclear forces in difficult terrain , improving their mobility , and hardening its missile silo s . The CJ - 10 long - range cruise missile made its first public appearance during the military parade on the 60th Anniversary of the People ' s Republic of China ; the CJ - 10 represents the next generation in rocket weapons technology in the PLA . In late 2009 , it was reported that the Corps was constructing a 5000 km - long underground launch and storage facility for nuclear missiles in the Hebei province . " 47 News " reported that the facility was likely located in the Taihang Mountains . Active missiles . LACM . See cruise missiles of China See also . National strategic missile forces : References .