An investigation carried out through commercial satellite images has revealed the construction of about 119 missile silos in a remote area in northwest China in the desert near Yumen.
It is being speculated that China is preparing for a mass expansion of its nuclear capabilities. According to the Washington Post, the sites have the same features as other nuclear facilities that contain ballistic missiles, which has led to fear about China's potential of nuclear escalation.
Although the missile silos observed signify a huge increase in the number of nuclear weapons obtained by the country, the exact number and size of missiles currently stored in China remain unknown. China is known however to have a track record in using decoy silos as well.
Jeffrey Lewis, researcher and director of the East Asia Nonproliferation Program at the Center for Nonproliferation Studies, who was involved in the investigation, told the Post:
"If the silos under construction at other sites across China are added to the count, the total comes to about 145 silos under construction. 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 defenses."
Back in April, Pentagon officials had warned that China is massively expanding its intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).
Lewis said that it is possible that the sites house a DF-41 type of ICBMs which has a range of 9,300 miles and is capable of carrying multiple warheads.
According to the Post, China's nuclear missiles are still outnumbered by the US and Russia, who have more than 11,000 nuclear warheads combined.
But, as Lewis himself notes:
"We're stumbling into an arms race that is largely driven by US investments and missile defense."
[h/t: Futurism]
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