China building more than 100 ‘nuclear’ missile silos in desert

Caught this from the Guardian

China is building more than 100 missile silos in the desert, according to an analysis of satellite photos, which researchers say signals a possible expansion of the country’s nuclear capabilities.

Analysts warned the expansion signified an “alarming development” but also urged caution against “worst-case thinking”, noting tension between major nuclear powers over disarmament.

The research, first reported by the Washington Post on Thursday, identified the construction of at least 119 silos, likely to hold intercontinental ballistic missiles, have been identified in the desert of Gansu province.

Definitely one to watch, it will be interesting to see what China has to say about this.

The article does go on to say that perhaps this is a so called "Shell Game" to hide the true (lesser) number of warheads.

"worst case thinking" has been urged against.

I don't think anyone should be creating new Nukes in this day and age, that's the opposite of what the world needs.

a reply to: djz3ro

I didn't know the Chinese landscape had any desert.. Gansu province.. It'd be nice to see some of the pictures of the desert there..

a reply to: tony9802xx
Check this out:

And did you know that they are pointed at places of Australia . Why, well America will now have missiles in Australia pointed at China.

originally posted by: musicismagic
And did you know that they are pointed at places of Australia . Why, well America will now have missiles in Australia pointed at China.

The US have submarines for that but I get your point.

Cold war 2.0

Whatever happened to peace? There is no initiative from anyone towards that goal. Rivals are always the enemy. We aren't any better than the Chinese, all the major powers are corrupt. How may nuclear devices does a country need? There is no hope in the world.

a reply to: tony9802xx

China has some pretty vast deserts, not as large as the Sahara perhaps but large nevertheless.

This Japanese documentary series (though dated and which has a very iconic theme tune) is one of the best to show some of China and beyond's deserts along the famous Silk Road that once connected the east and the west since at least and probably before the time of Rome.

If that link does not work here is the full url.
youtu.be...

Many of the deserts stretch far beyond China's boundary's into former or current Russian controlled regions and into other parts of Eurasia, many are super hot by day and super cold by night.

The Driest desert in the world though would surprise you and it is actually a very cold and high one indeed and that is the McMurdo dry valley's desert of Antarctica with Chiles Atacama being of similar dryness, those two are the driest deserts on earth.


I wonder how many if any of these new silo's they are building are going to actually be real, how many of them will have live nuclear missiles and how many OTHER Secret silo's they may be building everywhere else while the world watches what they are doing with this hand.

originally posted by: midicon
Whatever happened to peace? There is no initiative from anyone towards that goal. Rivals are always the enemy. We aren't any better than the Chinese, all the major powers are corrupt. How may nuclear devices does a country need? There is no hope in the world.

Russia (6,490)
United States (6,185)
France (300)
China (290)
United Kingdom (200)
Pakistan (160)
India (140)
Israel (90)
North Korea (30)

Doesn’t that make you feel all warm and fuzzy?

originally posted by: Wide-Eyes

originally posted by: musicismagic
And did you know that they are pointed at places of Australia . Why, well America will now have missiles in Australia pointed at China.

The US have submarines for that but I get your point.

Cold war 2.0

Its to keep Australia from drifting away from USA military might. Sadly though, chinese is making inroads there on being anti american with its politics, don't believe me, check out Biden why he is letting in over 2 million people into tthe USA recently,

originally posted by: tony9802xx
a reply to: djz3ro

I didn't know the Chinese landscape had any desert.. Gansu province.. It'd be nice to see some of the pictures of the desert there..

Mongolia and the Gobi desert which reaches into China!

originally posted by: tony9802xx
a reply to: djz3ro

I didn't know the Chinese landscape had any desert.. Gansu province.. It'd be nice to see some of the pictures of the desert there..

Central China is almost ALL desert! There's probably more desert in China than any other type of ecosystem.

It's not all hot desert like in the movies, much of it is high, cold, mountain desert. Having grown up in high desert myself, I can tell you some of the coldest places on Earth are in the desert. There's no moisture to hold the heat.

a reply to: Wide-Eyes

That's just an overt warning to China not to point their missiles at Pine Gap!
(which is right where they are pointing to).

a reply to: tony9802xx

The Gobi desert is partly in China.

It's an odd place to look at on google maps.

a reply to: dug88

Blueberries!

And ripples. These seabed landscapes are fascinating.

Younger Dryas or prehistoric?

The sheer volume of water that must have enveloped these plains is almost impossible to fathom.

a reply to: djz3ro

On the one hand it wouldn't be right to suggest some nefarious motive just because they are chinese.
Are they really any more dangerous with nukes than any other country?

On the other hand it's the chinese government. They are known to not make moves lightly. They have a reason for this.
Could be as innocent as they are looking around and seeing much instability across the world and are being prepared.
If that's the case I respect their right to do so.

why do they need 119 silos? America only has 4 on American soil. strange to build so many....

Looks like China is planning to invade and commandeer Taiwan soon, so because of their guilt and fear of the west for doing this evil deed, they believe they will need more nukes. Just an observation and a certain possibility.

originally posted by: namehere
why do they need 119 silos? America only has 4 on American soil. strange to build so many....

As noted, most of them are probably decoys. If not all of them.

a reply to: namehere

Because their Boomers sink?

Uk has no silos.

Australia isn’t nuclear armed so it would be a bit aggressive to suggest China would bomb it for any minor skirmishes over disputed territory.

Don’t forget, the first launch signals game over for everyone, it is too big a risk to take except for NK who literally have nothing to lose, they are all about securing your seat in the world.

Not to mention 100 targets that are not going anywhere.

originally posted by: musicismagic
And did you know that they are pointed at places of Australia . Why, well America will now have missiles in Australia pointed at China.

No, they won't where did you get this from? There are no US missiles pointed at China in Australia.Its also not very practical for that either, Silos are just not the best option anymore