US Researchers Claim China Building Over 100 ‘Nuclear’ Missile Silos in Desert

• 13 July 2021
• Construction Focus
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US researchers have claimed that China is building more than 100 missile silos in the desert of Gansu province based on analysis of satellite images, which could lead to the expansion of China’s nuclear capabilities, reported the Guardian recently.

According to the satellite images obtained by the researchers of the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies, there are at least 119 silos are being built, which could possibly hold intercontinental ballistic missiles.

In addition, the site near Yumen also includes the construction of underground bunkers, which could also be used as launch centres, cable trenches, roads and a small military base, said US nuclear expert Jeffrey Lewis.

“We believe 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 defences,” Lewis told the Washington Post.

Nevertheless, according to Lewis, the number of silos does not necessarily correlate with the number of missiles.

He added this site could be a “shell game” to partially disguise where missiles are kept and ensure other parties in a war would not know exactly where they were.

China is believed to have about 350 nuclear warheads, about 30 more than in 2020, and far fewer than the US or Russia, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

Photo: Washington Post

• Policy and Strategy