China is doing large-scale military construction to make its nuclear weapons more secure. Satellite images seen by news agency Reuters have shown that new launch pads, strong military bases and modern communication networks are being built in the north-western desert areas of China. Experts say that China is making such a system so that even after any major attack, its nuclear power remains safe and it can retaliate.
This construction is mainly taking place in Xinjiang and Gansu provinces. China’s longest range intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) are deployed in these areas. According to security experts, the purpose of these new facilities is to protect China’s nuclear missiles from any possible attack.
Such military construction has not been seen before
Hans Christensen, director of the Nuclear Information Project of the Federation of American Scientists, said he had never seen military construction of this scale before. According to him, this is an extraordinary and huge effort being made by China. Satellite images have shown more than 80 concrete launch pads and three large octagonal military bases near Xinjiang’s Hami nuclear missile field. Experts believe that they can be used as mobile missile launchers, air defense systems, electronic warfare, satellite communications and military command centers.
This entire network is spread over thousands of square kilometers of desert area. Experts say that this will increase both the safety and operational capability of China’s nuclear missiles. China is working on increasing its second strike capability. This means that if any country first launches a nuclear attack on China, then China will still have the capability to launch a retaliatory nuclear attack.
Concern of western countries increased
China has been talking about a policy of no first nuclear attack for a long time. However, China’s rapidly expanding nuclear infrastructure has increased the concern of America and Western countries. Many experts say that China makes very little information public about its nuclear program, which raises questions about its future strategy. Recently, Chinese President Xi Jinping had warned US President Donald Trump that if the Taiwan issue is mishandled, the relations between the two countries could reach a dangerous turn.
What are the arrangements in this facility?
Two large octagonal military complexes are also visible in the new pictures. These include living arrangements for soldiers, facilities for large military vehicles, bunkers, secure warehouses, airstrips and rail links. Military exercises were also seen in these areas during April and May. Large tents, hidden military bases and air defense missile systems are also seen in the pictures.
From these military complexes, many roads and underground passages are visible leading far into the desert. Experts believe that fiber-optic cables have been laid in them, which connect the launch pad to the command center. Apart from this, satellite dishes and big communication towers have also been built here.
100 ICBMs deployed in China
According to the report, China can achieve the capability of having about 1,000 nuclear warheads by 2030. It is estimated that about 100 ICBMs (Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles) are already deployed in its three main missile fields. Experts say that the kind of security cover that China is building by combining missile defense system, communication network and mobile launch system, appears quite different and comprehensive in comparison to other nuclear powers of the world.
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