China is building a 2nd base for nuclear missiles, say analysts

Researchers in the US say China is building 250 silos for nuclear missiles in ‘the most significant expansion of the Chinese nuclear arsenal ever’.

Analysts at the Federation of American Scientists say China is building a second field of silos for launching nuclear missiles in a development that could constitute “the most significant expansion of the Chinese nuclear arsenal ever”. The United States-based researchers made the discovery after analysing commercial satellite images, and said on Monday that the field – located near the city of Hami in Xinjiang province – may eventually include about 110 silos. The new field is about 380km (236 miles) from a base near the city of Yumen in neighbouring Gansu province, where another group of researchers earlier this month found construction under way on 120 missile silos.