🚨 Big China news 🚨
I found China's 2nd nuclear silo field, in Eastern Xinjiang.@nukestrat + I estimate that it could eventually house 110 silos.
In total, China seems to be building ~250 new silos––the largest expansion of China's nuclear force ever.https://t.co/n9KbjxwWsX
— Matt Korda (@mattkorda) July 27, 2021
In addition to @WilliamJBroad + @SangerNYT's great piece, @nukestrat and I have written up our take on the discovery for the @FAScientists blog, where we analyze the Hami site in detail and take a broad look at what's happening with China's nuclear policy.https://t.co/EF0PLCxYZH
— Matt Korda (@mattkorda) July 27, 2021
RT: China appears to be building a second missile silo field, eventually possibly with 110 silos. New York Times has the story https://t.co/muVf92ywRc based on our analysis https://t.co/5SVrV0iThj
My colleague @mattkorda found it first. Thanks to @planet for satellite images. pic.twitter.com/2fhee5kMdX
— Hans Kristensen (also on Bluesky) (@nukestrat) July 27, 2021
STRATCOM seems to confirm silos we have described under construction in China https://t.co/5SVrV0iThj are indeed nuclear missile silos.
If STRATCOM knew, why didn’t it say? To help lift “veil of secrecy,” tell us: is it “shell game” or you think all/most silos will be loaded? https://t.co/uJv7d5RHqg
— Hans Kristensen (also on Bluesky) (@nukestrat) July 28, 2021
.@Newsweek article on our silo discovery:
“It is unknown at this point whether all silos will be filled. Some analysts favor the 'shell game' hypothesis while others, including officials we have talked to, assume that the silos will eventually be filled.” https://t.co/aArFjE9Uw8 https://t.co/Fu9adN7Wbd
— Hans Kristensen (also on Bluesky) (@nukestrat) July 27, 2021
AC