Satellite imagery uncovers new warhead-related facilities in Sichuan’s mountains near Zitong and Pingtong, highlighting China’s push to modernize its nuclear arsenal amid intensifying global rivalries.
China’s Accelerating Nuclear Stockpile
The Pentagon’s recent assessment shows China maintains over 600 nuclear warheads as of late 2024, with forecasts predicting 1,000 by 2030. This growth, though trailing U.S. and Russian levels, alarms experts due to its speed.
Matthew Sharp, former U.S. State Department official and current MIT researcher, highlights risks from limited communication. “Without a real dialogue on these topics, which we lack, it’s really hard to say where it’s going,” he states. “Now we’re forced to react and plan around the worst-case interpretation of a concerning trend line.”
Key Developments at Zitong and Pingtong Sites
Near Zitong, construction crews erect new bunkers and ramparts in one valley. A fresh complex links via pipes, pointing to operations with hazardous materials.
Pingtong hosts a fortified site specialists link to plutonium core production for warheads. Its primary building features a refurbished 360-foot ventilation stack equipped with updated vents and heat dispersers, alongside nearby expansions. Prominent signage above the entrance bears President Xi Jinping’s motto: “Stay true to the founding cause and always remember our mission.”
Analysis from Nuclear Experts
Observers compare Pingtong’s configuration to plutonium facilities worldwide, such as the U.S. Los Alamos National Laboratory. Zitong’s reinforced zones appear designed for high-explosive tests that initiate nuclear chain reactions.
Harvard physicist Hui Zhang notes these tests hone critical processes. Production totals remain unclear, and upgrades might address safety or enable systems like submarine-launched missiles.
Geospatial analyst Renny Babiarz reports heightened activity since 2019, fitting China’s superpower aspirations.
U.S. officials fear a bolstered arsenal influences crisis behavior, notably around Taiwan. Michael S. Chase, ex-Pentagon advisor at RAND, explains China seeks resilience against U.S. nuclear leverage in potential Taiwan conflicts.
