China is building another 110 nuclear missile silos in its western desert in what experts have described as the “most extensive” construction effort since the Cold War, according to new research published on Tuesday.
Matt Korda and Hans Kristensen, who study the global arms buildup for the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists (FAS) in Washington, D.C., said the newly discovered missile field in Hami, Xinjiang, is spread across an area of about 308 square miles.
It is located 240 miles northwest of Yumen, Gansu province, where around 120 under-construction missile bases were found just a month earlier by researchers at the Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS) in California. Together, they constitute “the most significant expansion of the Chinese nuclear arsenal ever,” as well as the deepest inland of China’s intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) installations, the report said.
In their findings, Korda and Kristensen estimate that construction of the Hami sites began in March, about a month after work is believed to have started at the Yumen bases. Environmental domes have been placed over at least 14 silos, while preparations are underway at another 19 bases, they said.
“Construction and organization of the Hami silos are very similar to the 120 silos at the Yumen site, and are also very similar to the approximately one-dozen silos constructed at the Jilantai training area in Inner Mongolia,” said Tuesday’s report, noting that the total number of potential launch facilities now stands at about 250.
The ICBM launch sites in Inner Mongolia were also used as a guide by CNS experts with the East Asia Nonproliferation Program (EANP), according to program director Jeffrey Lewis, whose colleague Decker Eveleth discovered the Yumen missile field while combing through images supplied by the commercial satellite company Planet.
Like the sites in Yumen, Korda and Kristensen’s analysis found each nuclear silo to be spaced apart by 1.8 miles of land—another similarity in the grid pattern.
“It is unknown at this point whether all silos will be filled,” said Kristensen, who is project director at FAS. “Some analysts favor the ‘shell game’ hypothesis while others, including officials we have talked to, assume that the silos will eventually be filled,” he told Newsweek.
The “shell game” refers to a strategy deployed by the United States during the Cold War, when its nuclear arsenal would be constantly shuttled between a larger number of silos, obscuring the true location and quality of the country’s nuclear strike capabilities.
China’s People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force has for decades maintained about 20 silos for nuclear-capable DF-5 ICBMs, the FAS research notes. The military also has around 100 truck-mounted ICBM launchers.
When complete, the addition of 250 bases will give China a larger number of silo-based ICBMs than Russia, and bring its total to about half the size of the U.S. ICBM capacity, the report said.
FAS estimates China’s current stockpile at roughly 350 nuclear warheads, while a September 2020 Pentagon report put the figure in the “low 200s” and likely to double in the next decade.
“Although significant, even such an expansion would still not give China near-parity with the nuclear stockpiles of Russia and the United States,” Korda and Kristensen wrote.
While it remains unclear how China plans to operate its hundreds of new nuclear missile silos, Kristensen noted in a written response: “[T]he motivation behind this massive undertaking is probably influenced by a combination of factors, of which improving the survivability of the ICBM portion of the arsenal is one, and increasing the arsenal to enhance China’s global status is another.”
Despite Beijing’s stated commitment to a minimum deterrent and a no first use policy, the report describes a security dilemma as China responds to arms competition with the U.S., Russia and India.
“The silo construction will likely further deepen military tension, fuel fear of China’s intentions, embolden arguments that arms control and constraints are naïve, and that U.S. and Russian nuclear arsenals cannot be reduced further but instead must be adjusted to take into account the Chinese nuclear build-up,” the researchers said.
Convincing China to join arms control dialogue is the most ideal solution, they added while also noting obvious challenges to this endeavor. One such obstacle appears to be China’s reluctance to reduce its already outmatched arsenal—among the likely requirement of joining agreements like New START.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, addressing the UN-backed Conference on Disarmament on June 11, said China planned to keep its nuclear arsenal at a “minimum level” and “does not compete with any other country in size or scale.”
Take the house & senate back; Finish the wall; no $ or help of any kind or health care for illegal persons; English language only; teach US history and Constitution in schools; audit the Fed Reserve; no visas of any kind except merit visas, revert to back our $ with gold, cancel the security clearances for all Obama, Biden hold overs and RINO’s & get rid of them; voting with photo ID only, NO MAIL-IN voting, NO SAME DAY VOTING REGISTRATION AND VOTING; no doing any business with China; do not use dominion HAMMER computer and scorecard software in future voting; seize all bank accounts belonging or affiliated with George Soros’ Open Society Foundations; stop the resettlement of illegals around the USA. This is my opinion.
right on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Completely agree.
I would advocate removing all China purchased farm and meat growing and processing facilities. Also ban all imports of all products imported from Mainland China
Your EXACTLY RIGHT!!.l WILL add l small thing: EXECUTE A. L. L. Known traitors..👍
The CCP can NEVER BE TRUSTED TO DO THE RIGHT THING. To them it is always about “POWER” — the most powerful weapons AND the most contagious Coronavirus that has caused millions to die either from the disease or from the vaccines!
I truly believe that the CCP has stepped in a pile of dung and now that the whole world knows that Covid 19 came from the CCP’s own Wuhan Virology Lab, it’s not just the Axis Countries that want to kick the CCP’s butt across the Universe! However, even every smaller Country is also pissed off greatly by the CCP’s arrogance and stupidity in letting that virus free infecting our world!
Building those numerous silos is the CCP’s way of pretending they are a bigger threat when they really are not! It’s like a bully on the playground who acts tough and thinks everyone is fooled by his bluster — until some little dude kicks the snot out of him!
China had better watch out! It won’t be an Axis Country to knock away its bluster, but some smaller country that China will never see coming!
We should Nuke them while we can. They WILL nuke us. It’s just a matter of time. Also our grid is critical. If that goes out only the survivalists’ will survive. Be warned. We simply can’t be nice fools anymore. Times are extremely dangerous under Joe.
I believe they will continue to enhance the deadly Covid virus and make it a 100% killer. All they have to do is find a vaccine for who they want to keep alive and incorporate in the annual flue shot.
Think it’s not possible?
Anybody remember Dr. Strangelove. He was correct!
To my fellow Americans do you really believe the Wuhan Lab was an accident? This was a true test by the CCP of germ warfare. They do not care who they kill even their own. Our current administration is denying this. People over the world wake up!!!!
Howdy! This post couldn’t be written much better!
Looking at this post reminds me of my previous roommate!
He always kept talking about this. I am going to send
this information to him. Pretty sure he will have a great read.
Thank you for sharing!
Thanks for another wonderful article. Where else may just anybody get
that kind of info in such an ideal method of writing?
I have a presentation subsequent week, and I’m on the look for such info.
bookmarked!!, I really like your blog!
I am really happy to glance at this web site posts which carries lots of useful facts,
thanks for providing these data.
What’s up Dear, are you actually visiting this web page
regularly, if so after that you will absolutely obtain good experience.
Hello, this weekend is fastidious for me, for the reason that this occasion i am reading this enormous educational piece of writing here at my residence.
I enjoy reading a post that can make men and women think.
Also, thank you for allowing for me to comment!
Your means of telling everything in this post
is really nice, every one be able to without difficulty be aware of it, Thanks a
lot.
mouse click the up coming document
A person essentially assist to make critically posts I might state.
That is the very first time I frequented your website page and so far?
I amazed with the analysis you made to make this particular publish extraordinary.
Great job!
No one particular beat the odds for last night’s $750 Mega Millions best prize.
Heya i’m for the primary time here. I found this board and I find It really helpful & it
helped me out much. I am hoping to present something back and help others
such as you helped me.
It is perfect time to make some plans for the future and it is
time to be happy. I have read this post and if I could I want to suggest
you few interesting things or tips. Perhaps you
can write next articles referring to this article.
I want to read even more things about it!
Fastidious response in return of this issue with
genuine arguments and explaining all concerning that.
Way cool! Some extremely valid points! I appreciate you penning this
write-up plus the rest of the site is really good.
Mega Millions drawing are on Tuesdays and Fridays at 11 p.m.
Whats up are using WordPress for your site platform? I’m new to the blog
world but I’m trying to get started and create my own. Do
you need any html coding expertise to make your own blog?
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Hello! I just want to offer you a big thumbs up for your great info you have got
here on this post. I’ll be returning to your web site for more soon.
These are in fact wonderful ideas in about blogging.
You have touched some fastidious points here.
Any way keep up wrinting.
Hello there, I found your blog by way of Google whilst searching for
a similar subject, your web site got here up, it looks great.
I’ve bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.
Hello there, simply became alert to your weblog
thru Google, and located that it is truly informative.
I’m gonna be careful for brussels. I will be
grateful when you proceed this in future. Numerous other folks will
probably be benefited out of your writing.
Cheers!
It’s hard to come by experienced people on this topic, but
you sound like you know what you’re talking about! Thanks
It’s really a great and helpful piece of info. I am
satisfied that you just shared this useful info with us.
Please stay us up to date like this. Thank you for sharing.
An intriguing discussion is definitely worth comment.
There’s no doubt that that you should publish more on this
subject matter, it may not be a taboo matter
but generally people do not discuss these subjects.
To the next! Kind regards!!
I just like the helpful info you supply in your articles.
I’ll bookmark your blog and test again right here frequently.
I’m reasonably certain I’ll learn a lot of new stuff proper here!
Good luck for the next!
bookmarked!!, I love your web site!
Hi, i feel that i noticed you visited my site thus i got here to return the prefer?.I’m attempting to to
find things to improve my website!I suppose its good enough
to use some of your ideas!!
Please let me know if you’re looking for a article writer for your blog.
You have some really great articles and I think I would be a good asset.
If you ever want to take some of the load off, I’d absolutely love to
write some content for your blog in exchange for a link back to mine.
Please blast me an email if interested. Many thanks!
Way cool! Some extremely valid points! I appreciate you penning this article plus
the rest of the site is very good.
Thanks to my father who informed me on the topic
of this blog, this website is genuinely awesome.
Thanks very interesting blog!
This is the perfect blog for anybody who really wants to find out about this topic. You know a whole lot its almost hard to argue with you (not that I really would want to…HaHa). You certainly put a fresh spin on a subject that’s been written about for years. Wonderful stuff, just great!|
It’s the best time to make a few plans for the long run and it is time to be
happy. I have read this publish and if I may I desire to counsel you
few interesting things or suggestions. Maybe you could write next articles referring to this article.
I desire to learn more issues about it!
great submit, very informative. I’m wondering why the other experts of this sector do not noticethis. You should continue your writing. I’m confident,you’ve a huge readers’ base already!
Thanks for the blog post.Really looking forward to read more. Will read on…
It is perfect time to make some plans for the
future and it’s time to be happy. I have learn this post and if I may I desire to recommend
you few fascinating things or suggestions. Maybe you can write subsequent articles relating to this article.
I want to read more issues about it!
I every time spent my half an hour to read this blog’s articles or reviews everyday along with a cup of coffee.|
Remarkable! Its truly amazing paragraph, I have got much clear idea concerning from this paragraph.|
This piece of writing will assist the internet viewers for creating new weblog or even a weblog from start to end.|
Why users still use to read news papers when in this technological globe all is accessible on net?|
Spot on with this write-up, I truly believe this amazing site needs far more attention. I’ll probably be returning to see more, thanks for the info!|
Very good post! We are linking to this particularly great post on our site. Keep up the good writing.|
It is the best time to make some plans for the future and it’s time to be happy. I have read this post and if I could I wish to suggest you few interesting things or tips. Perhaps you can write next articles referring to this article. I want to read more things about it!|