China would be constructing a military complex 10 times larger than the Pentagon in western Beijing, where, according to U.S. intelligence sources, the command center would be located in times of war, reports the British newspaper Financial Times (FT) today.
According to satellite images and intelligence analysis released by the newspaper, construction began last year about 30 kilometers southwest of the Chinese capital and spans over an area of approximately 6 square kilometers, making it the largest military command center in the world.
These photographs also point to the existence of deep wells in the area that, according to experts, reflect the construction of large reinforced bunkers that could shelter Chinese leaders in case of conflict, including a hypothetical nuclear war.
"The analysis of the images suggests the construction of several possible underground facilities connected by tunnels, although more data and information are needed to fully assess this construction," explained analyst Renny Babiarz of AllSource Analysis.
On the heavily censored Chinese internet, there are no mentions of the project, near which there is no visible military presence but there are signs prohibiting photography or drone operation, notes FT.
A former U.S. intelligence member quoted by the newspaper asserts that the current headquarters of the People's Liberation Army (PLA, the Chinese army), located in central Beijing, is relatively modern but was not designed to function as a secure command center.
"The main secure command center is in the Western Hills, northeast of the new facilities, and was built decades ago, at the height of the Cold War. The size, scale, and partially underground features of the new facilities suggest that it will replace the Western Hills complex as the main command center in wartime," pointed out that source.
Dennis Wilder, a former China analyst for the CIA, stated that "if confirmed, this new advanced underground command bunker for military leaders, including President Xi (Jinping) as chairman of the Central Military Commission, indicates Beijing's intention to build not only a world-class conventional force but also the advanced capability to wage nuclear war."
FT emphasizes that the construction of the complex would be taking place alongside the PLA developing new weapons and projects ahead of its centenary celebration in 2027, a date for which, according to U.S. intelligence, Xi has ordered his Army to have the capabilities needed to launch a hypothetical attack on Taiwan.
