China is building launch pads near its nuclear missile silos
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- China is building a vast network of launch pads, bunkers and communications nodes near its isolated nuclear silos in the Xinjiang and Gansu desert, according to Reuters‑reviewed satellite images.
- 80+ launch pads have been identified, intended for mobile missile launchers, air‑defense batteries and supporting facilities such as electronic warfare and satellite communications.
- Alexander Neill, adjunct fellow at the Pacific Forum, says the scale—covering thousands of square kilometers—represents a considerable enhancement and diversification of China's strategic nuclear deterrent.
- Analysts note the expansion bolsters China's second‑strike capability and reflects intensifying nuclear competition with the United States amid rising tensions over Taiwan.
Why it matters: The construction of over 80 pads and supporting bunkers across thousands of square kilometers gives Beijing a more survivable nuclear force, forcing U.S. planners to reassess deterrence postures and allocate additional defense resources.
