DNA Explainer: Why China is rapidly building new nuclear missile silos

Amid all the tensions in Afghanistan and other places, China is busy trying to increase its nuclear and military strength. Recently, some satellite images have revealed that China is building at least three missile silo fields in Inner Mongolia. But this is not the first time. At the beginning of this year, 16 missile silos were detected in the People's Liberation Army Rocket Force's (PLARF) Jilantai training area, also in Inner Mongolia.

Nuclear silos are vertical cylindrical structures constructed underground, for the storage and launching of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). It is estimated that China is constructing around 120 missile silos at Yumen, around 110 silos in Hami, and 29 in the Hanggin Banner field. The Yumen and Hami fields are identical. The silos are grouped but spaced roughly two miles apart in grid patterns. Some of the silos have dome shelters. 

Last month, the US military warned about a major expansion of China's nuclear missile silo fields. Researchers at the Federation of American Scientists used satellite imagery to identify a new field being built in western China and estimated that China has approximately 250 underground missile silos under construction.

The missile silo field in the Xinjiang region is the second one reported this summer. In June, researchers at the James Martin Centre for Nonproliferation Studies in California identified another field under construction in the neighboring Gansu province.

U.S. concern over China nukes buildup after new silos report https://t.co/URWgNSp5ao pic.twitter.com/E5kC19hzqg

— Reuters (@Reuters) July 28, 2021

Possible reasons for China building missile silos

Though there has been no reaction from the Chinese side on reports related to this, there could be three possible reasons behind it. 

Firstly, experts on China believe that this could be the Communist nation's attempt to move towards a launch-on-warning (LOW) nuclear posture.

Launch-on-warning (LOW) refers to a launch at an adversary on detection of an incoming missile before the adversary's missile hits its target.

Since 1964 China's nuclear strategy has remained largely unchanged when it first exploded a nuclear device. It is based on installing fear through assured revenge.

Secondly, it enables China to achieve its goal of increasing its nuclear warhead stockpile. China currently has around 350 nuclear warheads. 

China has around 150 land-based missiles that can deliver between 180-190 nuclear warheads to some parts of the United States.

If all the new missile silos are loaded with a single-warhead missile, the count would increase to 410-440.

If the silos on completion are loaded with the DF-41s, which can carry up to two-three warheads per missile, this count would rise to 930-940 warheads.

Thirdly, China wants to build a much larger nuclear arsenal fearing that any weakness would result in Western countries destabilising China and threaten security.

A bigger arsenal would make the country's rivals respect China and exercise more self-restraint when dealing with Beijing.

Advantages and disadvantages

Silos are much more vulnerable than some alternative launch platforms because they do not move. This makes them easy to locate and even easier to target.

But with enough nuclear silos and modern missile technology, they can be advantageous.

(With Agency Inputs)