China has stepped up the modernization of its secret nuclear facilities, according to a report by The Washington Post citing satellite imagery and expert assessments. The upgrades are part of Beijing’s efforts to enhance its nuclear response capabilities and update key elements of its infrastructure that had previously eluded international scrutiny.
Experts from the Austrian Open Nuclear Network and London-based VERTIC analyzed satellite images alongside declassified documents, scientific publications, and data on military equipment movement to identify activity at at least six sites involved in nuclear warhead production. The most active phase of expansion began in 2021 in Sichuan Province, where a facility producing plutonium cores saw expanded security perimeters, updated buildings, and new construction.
Similar modernization work is underway at another site in Sichuan linked to the manufacture of explosive components for initiating nuclear reactions, including a new protective wall and potentially a storage facility. In Zitong County, a 40,000-square-meter facility was completed in 2024, likely for assembling and preparing warhead components.
While experts say China’s nuclear arsenal remains smaller than that of the United States, the upgrades indicate preparation for a prolonged arms race. A confidential Pentagon report cited by Reuters predicts that China could expand its warhead stockpile to several thousand by 2030, accelerating military readiness amid potential tensions surrounding Taiwan.
