China is preparing for a nuclear war scenario, building a vast network of military facilities in the middle of the desert. The scale of construction is so extensive that it covers thousands of square kilometers of desert.
According to Oxu.Az, this was reported by Reuters based on satellite images in their possession.
It is noted that the Chinese government is building a multi-branch network of launch pads, bunkers, and communication nodes in the empty Hami desert area of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in the country's northwest, near isolated nuclear missile silos. More than 80 facilities have been completed.
The satellite images show more than 80 launch pads, bunkers, communication centers, airfields, railway junctions, and weapons depots near the locations of China's intercontinental missiles.
The agency claims that these silos house the longest-range missiles in Beijing's arsenal. After reviewing the images, three security analysts said that the photos also show facilities that could be used for electronic warfare, satellite communications, and operations management.
Reuters notes that the scale of the previously unreported construction indicates the expansion of hardened infrastructure designed to protect and operate China's land-based nuclear forces. Overall, the network shows a significant increase in Beijing's efforts to ensure its retaliatory strike capabilities.
The publication states that the new infrastructure in the Xinjiang-Uyghur region is centered around two octagonal structures built in the last six years. Both are located southwest of the nuclear silos - one about 140 kilometers away, the other about 230 kilometers. Satellite images show that the octagonal structures contain living quarters for personnel and large military equipment. Some images from May and April also show drills involving this equipment. Security experts said the built launch pads could be used for deploying mobile anti-aircraft missiles and electronic warfare nodes, and the largest ones could accommodate mobile launchers for intercontinental ballistic missiles.
A third octagonal structure is used as a training ground. Satellite images show mock-ups of Western aircraft, damaged buildings, and ground dug with holes in the area.
It should be noted that in a report presented by the US intelligence community on March 21, it was stated that Russia, China, North Korea, Iran, and Pakistan are developing missile systems with nuclear and conventional warheads that could strike US territory.
According to CNN in late February, US intelligence agencies believe that China is developing a new generation of nuclear weapons and has conducted at least one covert test in recent years as part of modernizing its arsenal.
