Satellite images show China’s nuclear expansion: “We don’t know how many warheads have been manufactured”
Facilities undergoing modernization have been observed in Sichuan Province, potentially indicating testing related to atomic weapons.
China’s regime is significantly expanding its military nuclear infrastructure across several regions of the country. According to an analysis published by The New York Times, satellite images reveal upgrades at facilities historically linked to the production of atomic weapons.
At complexes located in valleys in Sichuan Province, including sites known as Zitong and Pingtong, analysts have identified new underground structures, industrial ventilation systems, and testing areas. Experts believe these facilities are intended for refining nuclear warheads.
Geospatial intelligence specialist Renny Babiarz shared his findings with the newspaper. In his view, the renovation of these facilities is part of a broader structural shift in Beijing’s policy.
“The changes we see on the ground at these sites align with China’s broader goals of becoming a global superpower. Nuclear weapons are an integral part of that,” he said.
After reviewing multiple nuclear installations, Babiarz identified a clear pattern of growth. “There’s been evolution at all of these sites, but broadly speaking, that change accelerated starting from 2019,” he noted.
Analysis of the images
The Pingtong complex houses one of the facilities, featuring a double security perimeter and a ventilation tower more than 100 meters tall. At the entrance to the complex, satellite images show a slogan attributed to the current leader of the regime, Xi Jinping, written in large characters visible from space, calling for loyalty to the Party’s founding mission.
In the Zitong valley, the images show the construction of new bunkers, protective embankments, and containment zones. According to experts, these areas are likely intended for high-explosive tests, which are essential for perfecting the implosion system that triggers the nuclear reaction inside a warhead.
Physicist Hui Zhang also spoke with The New York Times. He emphasized that it is not possible to determine the true scale of production based solely on satellite imagery, as confirmation would require actual detonation tests. “We don’t know how many warheads have been produced, but we just see the plant expansion,” he explained.
The expansion of China’s nuclear program is also linked to the weakening of global arms control mechanisms, particularly with the expiration of the last remaining arms reduction treaty between the United States and Russia. Washington maintains that any new agreement must include China, a demand that Beijing’s regime has consistently rejected.
Although China’s nuclear arsenal remains smaller than those of the United States and Russia, its rapid growth in recent months has raised concerns among Western experts. According to the most recent annual estimate from the U.S. Department of Defense, China possessed more than 600 nuclear warheads by the end of 2024.
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