China is building a new military command center, ten times the size of the Pentagon, according to a report in the Financial Times, citing U.S. intelligence officials. The facility, called the “Beijing Military City,” is being built 30 kilometers southwest of Beijing and covers a sprawling 1,500-acre area.
Details of the Beijing Military City
The project, started in mid-2024, is already grabbing headlines because of its enormous scale and secretive nature. Satellite imagery recently captured deep holes being dug in the area, signifying ongoing construction. The military complex is believed to be designed with hardened bunkers and large buildings capable of safeguarding high-ranking officials, including members of China’s Politburo, in the event of a conflict or nuclear attack.
A Chinese researcher, who wished to remain unnamed, told the Financial Times that the purpose of the command center was clear: “This fortress only serves one purpose, which is to act as a doomsday bunker for China’s increasingly sophisticated and capable military.”
Heightened Secrecy and Security Measures
The details of the project are unknown, and China’s embassy in Washington denies all knowledge of the project. It is reported on site that it has heavy security, with its guards enforcing rigid entry restrictions. There are even signs that deter flying drones and photographing the construction. In spite of its tight security measures, satellite images give an indication of the vastness of the development, stretching over four kilometers.
China’s Strategic Military Expansion
This new command center is the construction of the strategic desire of China to modernize its military infrastructure. The new site will replace the old military command center located in the Western Hills, built during the Cold War. According to former CIA official Dennis Wilder, the facility would represent an advanced underground command bunker, not only to house the leadership but also to enhance China’s nuclear preparedness.
Wilder further observed that the construction of such an advanced facility underlines Beijing’s long-term military ambitions, including the development of nuclear capabilities to rival Western powers.
China’s Nuclear Ambitions
The new military project comes in the wake of reports that China is rapidly growing its nuclear arsenal. The Pentagon says China will have 1,500 operational nuclear warheads by 2035, a number that brings its firepower closer to that of the United States. This increased nuclear capability has been seen as part of a broader effort to strengthen China’s military deterrence against potential threats from the West.
The construction of Beijing Military City gives a signal about China’s never-ending efforts toward becoming a paramount global military force. With increasing nuclear and conventional forces, the move also refers to the heightened geopolitical tensions witnessed between Beijing and Washington, in particular regarding who would be a dominant military power in the region.
