China is reportedly building more than 100 new “nuclear” missile silos: US think tank

China, which celebrated the 100th anniversary of its Communist Party on Thursday, is reportedly building more than 100 new “nuclear” missile silos in a desert area to the west of the country that could be a security nightmare for Asia, including India.

The leading US daily The Washington Post reported Thursday, citing a study of commercial satellite images by the California think tank James Martin Center for Non-proliferation Studies, that the silos in a desert near the northwestern Chinese city. would be built by Yumen.

The James Martin Center for Non-Proliferation Studies in Monterey said the 119 construction sites in Gansu province resembled China’s existing nuclear-tipped ballistic missile launchers.

The United States has expressed concern about this. State Department spokesman Ned Price said, “I think it is fair to say that these reports and other developments suggest that the People’s Republic of China (PRC) nuclear arsenal will grow faster and to a higher level than perhaps previously expected. ”

“This buildup is worrying,” said Price. “It raises questions about the intentions of the PRC.”

“And for us, this underscores the importance of practical measures to reduce nuclear risks,” he added.

“Despite the apparent obfuscation of the PRC, it has become more difficult to hide this rapid buildup,” Price said. “And it shows how the PRC is again deviating from a decades-long nuclear strategy based on minimal deterrence.”

Beijing, on the other hand, has insisted that its military or nuclear arsenal be insignificant compared to that of the United States or Russia and has called for bilateral dialogues on strategic security that respect “equality”.

In particular, the Pentagon estimated last year that China’s nuclear warhead supply was somewhere in the “low 200s” and could double with the country’s recent efforts to develop fuel for a new generation of nuclear reactors. The US nuclear weapons inventory, on the other hand, comprised around 3,800 warheads, of which 1,357 have already been used, according to a factsheet from the US State Department.

Non-proliferation experts said China’s push to develop fuel for a new generation of nuclear reactors will produce large quantities of materials this year that could be used to make nuclear weapons.

Meanwhile, Price also said Washington “took note” of statements made by Chinese President Xi Jinping at a ceremony marking the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Chinese Communist Party Thursday, but “did not comment on the details”.

In his address, Xi warned that foreign forces attempting to harass China would “smash their heads” and promised to build up his military. He also advocated the “reunification” of Taiwan, saying it would ensure social stability in Hong Kong while protecting China’s security and sovereignty.