China Expanding Nuclear Weapons Infrastructure Across Seven Sites, Satellite Images Reveal: Report

Photo / Illustration: Haldwani Times News Desk

<p>China is expanding infrastructure linked to its nuclear weapons programme at multiple sites across the country, with new construction and upgrades reported at facilities associated with nuclear research, weapons production and testing.</p> <p>The Telegraph reported, citing satellite imagery and analysis by nuclear experts, that activity has been identified at seven sites: Pingtong, Zitong, Lop Nur, Jiuquan, Mianyang, Jinta and Guangyuan. The reported construction spans different parts of China’s nuclear weapons infrastructure and comes as Chinese President Xi Jinping is in Washington for a state visit and is due to hold talks with US President Donald Trump. Xi Jinping said after arriving in the US that China and America should be “partners, not rivals", calling for a stable relationship based on cooperation, measured competition and manageable differences.</p> <p>As per the report, satellite imagery shows construction and upgrades at seven locations associated with different elements of China’s nuclear programme. At Pingtong, in central China, experts cited by the newspaper believe construction is connected to facilities used to produce plutonium pits, the core components of nuclear warheads. At Zitong, also in Sichuan province, new bunkers and other structures have reportedly been built.</p> <p>The sites at Lop Nur and Jiuquan are associated with China’s nuclear testing and military programmes, while Mianyang is home to major nuclear research facilities. Construction has also reportedly been observed at Jinta and Guangyuan. Earlier satellite-imagery research has also identified significant expansion at Chinese nuclear facilities in Sichuan. A New York Times investigation published in February reported new construction at Zitong and Pingtong and described expansion at a large laser facility in Mianyang.</p> <p>The Federation of American Scientists (FAS) estimates that China currently has approximately 620 nuclear warheads, making its arsenal the third-largest among the nine nuclear-armed states. FAS said that additional warheads are being produced for future delivery systems. The estimate does not mean that all 620 warheads are deployed and ready for immediate use. FAS says nearly all Chinese nuclear warheads are believed to be stored separately from their delivery systems, unlike the operationally deployed forces maintained by the US and Russia.</p> <p>FAS also notes that its estimate includes a significant number of warheads produced for missiles that are still being fielded, meaning the figure should not be read simply as the number of warheads currently mounted on operational weapons.</p> <p>China has continued developing its land-based nuclear forces, according to the 2026 FAS Nuclear Notebook. The country is continuing work on three large new fields of silos for solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missiles, while also constructing additional silos for its liquid-fuel DF-5 ICBMs. FAS says China is developing new ICBM variants and other advanced strategic delivery systems, while also expanding its dual-capable DF-26 intermediate-range ballistic missile force.</p> <p>The expansion of China’s nuclear infrastructure therefore involves more than simply increasing the number of missiles. It includes the facilities, research and production capabilities needed to support a broader and more diverse nuclear force.</p> <p>Satellite imagery and expert analysis identified new construction and upgrades linked to China&#x27;s nuclear weapons programme across seven locations: Pingtong, Zitong, Lop Nur, Jiuquan, Mianyang, Jinta, and Guangyuan.</p> <p>The Federation of American Scientists estimates that China currently possesses approximately 620 nuclear warheads, making its stockpile the third-largest among the nine nuclear-armed states.</p> <p>China is continuing work on three large new fields of silos for solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missiles, constructing additional silos for liquid-fuel DF-5 ICBMs, and expanding its dual-capable DF-26 intermediate-range ballistic missile force.</p>