China is signaling aggressive intentions following revelations of potential nuclear weapons testing, a defense expert cautioned. Recent satellite images of the secretive Lop Nur military base, often likened to “China’s Area 51,” depict significant enhancements by the Chinese military amid escalating tensions with Western nations. The images show extensive developments including boreholes, horizontal tunnels for containing nuclear blasts, an expanded runway, and advanced fighter aircraft. Additional infrastructure such as access roads, support buildings, and explosive storage facilities have been observed, suggesting recent advancements since 2020.
Notably, both Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin have hinted at resuming nuclear weapons testing, marking a significant shift since the Cold War era. The emergence of these images indicates that Xi Jinping, China’s leader, may also be inclined towards similar actions according to Professor Anthony Glees, a security and defense expert from the University of Buckingham. China presently possesses 600 nuclear warheads, significantly fewer than the United States with 5,177 and Russia with the world’s largest stockpile of 5,500 warheads. The United Kingdom currently has 225 warheads, a number set to increase to 260 in the coming years.
The expansion of the Malan Air Base, another covert testing facility in the Taklamakan Desert, along with the developments at Lop Nur, suggests China’s intentions to narrow the gap in nuclear capabilities, as per Professor Glees. He expressed concerns stating, “This is a grim taste of what is to come.” The disclosed images have raised apprehensions among officials in Taiwan, particularly following reports from US intelligence indicating a potential attack by Beijing on the island nation by 2027. Despite China’s repeated assurances of seeking “peaceful reunification,” the situation remains tense.
Professor Glees highlighted the escalating tensions, noting President Xi’s apparent shift towards a more confrontational stance, particularly towards Taiwan. The satellite images illustrate preparations for a significant air force test site, with indications of constructing a three-mile-long runway to accommodate new supersonic stealth planes, including the J-36 and J-50 models designed for high-speed, high-altitude operations with radar-evading capabilities. These aircraft are perceived as offensive assets rather than defensive, equipped to launch surprise attacks utilizing advanced hypersonic missiles and drones, with Taiwan potentially being the primary target in China’s strategic focus.
