Newly released satellite imagery indicates that China is constructing launch facilities and bunkers in anticipation of a potential nuclear missile attack. The expansive military complex is emerging near the isolated nuclear silos that house China’s longest-range missiles, as shown in images from Reuters. Analysts suggest that this infrastructure is being developed to safeguard China’s nuclear arsenal from potential preemptive strikes by the United States.
Situated in eastern Xinjiang, the new desert infrastructure comprises two octagon-shaped installations recently built over the past six years, both located southwest of the Hami nuclear silo fields. These installations, approximately 140 and 230 kilometers from the silos, feature over 80 pads that could accommodate China’s growing fleet of mobile missile launchers and air-defense systems. Additionally, the images reveal facilities possibly dedicated to electronic warfare, satellite communications, and command operations, as assessed by security analysts.
This expansion of fortified infrastructure is aimed at protecting and operating China’s land-based nuclear capabilities as the country competes with the U.S. in the nuclear realm, amid escalating tensions over issues such as Taiwan’s sovereignty. Alexander Neill, an adjunct fellow at Hawaii’s Pacific Forum think tank, highlighted the scale of this development, emphasizing its potential to significantly enhance and diversify China’s strategic nuclear deterrent.
The ability to secure its desert silos is crucial to China’s strategy of establishing a credible nuclear deterrent while maintaining a policy of “no first use.” Although China possesses other means to deploy nuclear weapons, such as submarines and aircraft, the silo fields in Xinjiang and Gansu remain central to its nuclear forces. President Xi Jinping’s military modernization, particularly in the nuclear realm, has attracted close scrutiny due to perceived lack of transparency and limited engagement with the U.S. on China’s evolving nuclear capabilities and intentions.
China’s commitment to a “no first use” policy notwithstanding, some observers speculate that the country might resort to nuclear coercion to influence conflicts involving Taiwan, which China claims as part of its territory. Against this backdrop, President Xi cautioned U.S. President Donald Trump about the risks of mishandling disagreements over Taiwan, warning that such actions could lead to a perilous situation. Taiwan’s government, in turn, rejects China’s territorial claims over the island.
