Satellite Imagery Reveals the Scale of China’s Military Ambitions: It’s Building The World’s Largest Military Base

During the Cold War, the Soviet Union prepared for the worst by building subway bases and bunkers. These sturdy structures were designed to withstand nuclear attacks. Germany also has similar remnants from past conflicts. Since 1980, a team in China has been working on developing deep shelters that can endure some of the most powerful Western bombs imaginable. This effort has led to the construction of the world’s largest military bunker.

10 times bigger than the Pentagon. According to satellite imagery obtained by the Financial Times, China is developing a massive military complex 18 miles from downtown Beijing. U.S. intelligence officials say that it’s intended to serve as a war command center for the high command of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in the event of conflict, including the possibility of a nuclear war.

Referred to informally by analysts as “Beijing Military City,” the site covers around 3,700 acres, making it 10 times larger than the Pentagon. U.S. agencies evaluated satellite images and revealed deep excavations and significant construction activity. This could indicate the creation of a network of heavily reinforced underground facilities connected by tunnels. The facilities are built to withstand attacks, including nuclear strikes.

Xi Jinping’s plans. The construction work reportedly began in mid-2024. This timeline aligns with the PLA’s preparations for its 100th anniversary in 2027. Chinese leader Xi Jinping has instructed the country’s armed forces to be able to take Taiwan by then.

As part of this modernization strategy, China’s efforts include expanding its nuclear arsenal, enhancing integration among PLA branches, and pursuing new weapons systems. Experts see the construction of a new bunker as a clear indication of China’s intentions to fortify its conventional military strength and bolster its capabilities for nuclear warfare.

Colossal bunker, absolute secrecy. According to the Financial Times, more than 100 cranes are operating simultaneously across a two-square-foot area. Image analysts have pointed out that the infrastructure includes subway facilities connected by hidden passages. The site lacks typical elements associated with civilian real estate projects, such as showrooms and official online mentions. This underscores the complex’s military nature.

Despite the absence of a visible military presence, numerous signs prohibit drone usage and photography. There are also access controls, guards, and restrictions in nearby tourist areas. Local residents have designated these as “military areas.”

Excavation works began in 2024.

Echoes of the Cold War. The site’s characteristics are reminiscent of Soviet-era subway bases. They reflect the influence of engineers like Qian Qihu. He pioneered the creation of structures resistant to nuclear attacks following his training at the former Kuybyshev Military Engineering Academy in the Soviet Union. According to Asian Times, Qian and his team have been working since at least the 1980s to develop deep shelters capable of withstanding extremely powerful bombs. For instance, they could protect against America’s GBU-57A/B, which can penetrate up to 200 feet.

An ambitious strategy. U.S. officials say that China’s new complex will replace the PLA’s current command center in the Western Hills. The current facility was built during the Cold War and is now considered outdated by contemporary security standards.

The new facility is expected to enhance the protection of high command from U.S. weaponry. It could also facilitate the integration of advanced communications while providing space for future military capabilities. The scale of the complex and its partially subterranean features suggest a singular purpose: serving as China’s main strategic operations center in the event of a conflict.

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Symbol of power. Researchers and analysts broadly agree that the project exhibits all the typical characteristics of a highly sensitive military installation. These include the use of reinforced concrete and a network of deep tunnels. A Chinese researcher told the outlet that the project’s size reflects Xi’s ambitions to surpass the U.S. in strategic capabilities.

Additionally, the construction coincides with an urban transformation in the outskirts of Beijing, where houses in areas like Qinglonghu have been demolished. This has fueled speculation about the project’s nature on Chinese social media platforms.

Precedent. China already possesses military subway facilities, such as the command center in Xishan, southwest of Beijing. This center, located 330 feet underground, has directed PLA maneuvers since 2013. In 2018, researchers identified a karst cave in Xishan Forest Park that reaches an estimated depth of 6,500 feet and has its own water source. All this makes it a potential site for a nuclear bunker.

The cave’s depth is comparable to the famous Krubera Cave in Georgia. In addition to the monumental construction underway, this suggests that the PLA is exploring reinforced natural locations for future strategic facilities.

Taiwan. Sources close to Taiwan’s defense ministry have also suggested to the Financial Times that the PLA is constructing a new command center. Some experts question whether the terrain is suitable for underground bunkers. However, given the size of the site, some speculate that it could also serve as a high-level administrative facility or a large-scale training base.

A Taiwanese researcher pointed out that the terrain far exceeds the dimensions of an ordinary military base. If true, this would reinforce the hypothesis that the site has a much larger strategic purpose.

Official silence. What’s clear from the satellite images is that China is building a monumental project during a time of war. Neither the director of national intelligence nor the Chinese embassy in Washington has officially provided further comments on the project. While Washington is closely monitoring the construction’s progress, Beijing insists on its commitment to a policy of defense and peaceful development.

However, the scale, secrecy, and technical characteristics of the new complex contribute to the perception that China is establishing the physical and logistical groundwork for a potential direct confrontation in the future. In the end, this military command center is designed to function even in extreme scenarios, such as a nuclear war.

More importantly, this facility is reported to be 10 times the size of the Pentagon.

Images | Michael Wood | Planet Labs

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