The Chinese military has been building a complex with the world's largest army command center southwest of Beijing since 2024. It will be 10 times larger than the US Pentagon and will house bunkers for the country's top officials, the Financial Times reported, citing satellite images and statements from intelligence sources.
"The satellite images ... show a construction site of about 1,500 acres (more than 6 sq km - ed.) 30 km southwest of Beijing with deep pits that military experts estimate will house large fortified bunkers to protect Chinese military leaders during any conflict, including a potential nuclear war," the newspaper said.
According to the US military, the intelligence community is closely monitoring the facility, which will be "the largest military command center in the world, 10 times the size of the Pentagon." Military analysts have dubbed the facility "Beijing's military campus."
Based on an assessment of satellite images obtained by the publication, major construction is reported to have begun in mid-2024. There is said to be no visible military presence at the site at present, but there are signs warning against flying drones and taking pictures.
"If the information is confirmed, this new advanced underground command bunker will signal to the military leadership, including Chinese President Xi Jinping as chairman of the Central Military Commission, Beijing's intent to develop not only a world-class conventional force, but also an advanced nuclear warfare capability," Dennis Wilder, former head of the CIA's China analytical division, told the publication. | BGNES
