What is China secretly building in thousands of villages?

In recent decades, nuclear powers have changed their approach, shifting from accumulating weapons to modernizing and expanding their nuclear infrastructures.

China, in particular, has intensified these efforts, creating new facilities on its territory. Recent investigations by media outlets such as the New York Times and CNN, through satellite images, have shown that, while disarmament agreements weakened, the country has been secretly developing its nuclear capability.

Towns Evacuated as China Builds New Nuclear Facilities

It has been reported the evacuation of entire villages in provinces like Sichuan, under the pretext of “state secrets,” which has allowed the construction of nuclear facilities in what were previously communities. These new structures include a monumental dome that rises on the banks of the Tongjiang River, still in the process of being equipped, suggesting that preparations are underway to increase nuclear production capacity.

The expansion of this infrastructure is not isolated; it is interconnected with other nuclear facilities through a renewed logistics and transportation network, indicating a long-term planned effort. This development responds to a strategy that prioritizes resilience and responsiveness to potential attacks, implementing early warning systems and protected structures.

While China’s nuclear arsenal is still smaller than that of the United States and Russia, the modernization suggests a more sophisticated approach to operational capability, which could significantly alter the global security landscape. The weakening of arms control treaties, such as New START between the U.S. and Russia, has created a vacuum where China’s inclusion in future agreements seems unlikely.

This uncertainty about the growth of China’s nuclear capabilities may prompt other nations to expand their arsenals, leading to an escalation of tensions. Thus, the world could enter a new arms race, not only based on numbers but also on perceptions and fears about the intentions of adversaries.