China to develop an extensive network of intercontinental ballistic missiles silos in its Southwest Xinjiang desert in Northwest. Satellite imagery from the commercial satellite company Planet Labs Inc. shows supposed locations of new Chinese ballistic missile silos with dots in this annotated version of an image. Moreover, the probable missile field, including one hundred and twenty silos that could possibly house weapons able to reach the U.S. mainland.
China is building a sprawling network of what appear to be intercontinental ballistic missile silos in its western desert that analysts say could change the equation for US military planners in Asia.
— Victoria Lord (@vb_lord) July 2, 2021
The James Martin Center for Nonproliferation researchers documented the studies using satellite imagery in collaboration with the Planet Labs Inc. Additionally, and the researchers compared satellite images taken during the last four months with the photos captured within the last week, finding the missile site covering a network of hundreds of square kilometers in Gansu province of China, according to a Chinese nuclear weapons expert, Jeffrey Lewis, who observed the images with colleague Decker Eveleth.
The Washington Post initially reported the findings of the pair. On Friday, Lewis told CNN that most construction of silos likely occurred to complete in the last six months. He said that it is really a surprising pace of construction and the buildup was also startling. Further, he added that it is much greater than anything they expected to perceive.
Chinese New Protection with Intercontinental Ballistic Missile
On the 110th anniversary of the Communist Party’s speech, the President of the People’s Republic of China, Xi Jinping, said that the rise of China is a historical certainty, and it will no longer be oppressed, conquered, or bullied by foreign nations. He added that anybody who dares to try would be bashed bloody their heads against a China great wall of steel forged by more than 1.4 billion Chinese nationals.
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Researchers identified one hundred and twenty possible silos, but there is no sign that they are in use or no indication of their use in the future. But according to analysts, the Chinese government could use the silos to house Chinese-manufactured DF-41 intercontinental ballistic missiles. At present, silos placed in a grid pattern at three-kilometer intervals.
According to the Missile Threat Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the DF-41 (CSS-X-20) projected to have a range of twelve thousand to fifteen thousand kilometers. In addition, it may equip with up to ten independently targeted nuclear warheads. The project’s website further said that it might also be able to strike the continental United States within thirty minutes.
Hua Chunying, the spokesman of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, reiterated the national commitment in January not to use nuclear weapons unless first attacked at any time or under any circumstances while vowing not to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon countries. Hua also maintained that the nuclear forces of the country always kept at the minimum level needed to safeguard national security. It is the consistent basic policy of the Chinese government.
How much China has nuclear weapons?
John Supple, the Pentagon spokesperson, said that several leaders of the Defense Department testified and openly spoken about the rising nuclear capabilities of China. It may double or more over the next ten years. Ned Price, the United States Department spokesman, described the apparent stockpile as concerning by noting that it raised questions over the intentions of China.
According to the estimation of analysts, China has about three hundred and fifty nuclear weapons, a fraction of 5550 warheads in the United States nuclear arsenal. Furthermore, the nuclear weapons of China include launchers and mobile, a small fleet of ballistic missiles, nuclear-capable bombers, and a small fleet of ballistic missile submarines. Therefore, it is not likely all of the one hundred and twenty supposed new silos would get an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) tipped with a nuclear weapon.
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