China building largest military command center, 10X size of Pentagon
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Satellite images analyzed by US intelligence reveal a massive 1,500-acre site 30 km southwest of Beijing, with deep excavations likely designed to house fortified bunkers protecting Chinese military leaders in case of war.
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A satellite image of the building of the new military base near Beijing, undated (Planet Labs)
The Chinese military is constructing a massive complex in western Beijing, which US intelligence believes will function as a wartime command center, surpassing the Pentagon in size by far, current and former American officials revealed.
Satellite images obtained by the FT and analyzed by US intelligence reveal a 1,500-acre construction site, located 30 kilometers southwest of Beijing. Military experts believe the site contains deep excavations designed to house large, fortified bunkers to safeguard Chinese military leaders in the event of a conflict—including a potential nuclear war.
Several current and former US officials said the intelligence services are closely monitoring the site, which is expected to become the world's largest military command center—at least ten times the size of the Pentagon, FT highlighted.
Assessment of satellite images obtained by the Financial Times revealed that major construction began in mid-2024. Three sources familiar with the matter said some intelligence analysts have referred to the project as "Beijing Military City."
The report states that the construction coincides with the People’s Liberation Army (PLA)'s advancement of new weaponry and strategic initiatives ahead of its centenary in 2027. According to US intelligence, President Xi Jinping has also directed the PLA to be prepared at all times.
The PLA is rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal while striving to enhance coordination between its military branches. Experts consider this lack of integration one of the PLA's biggest weaknesses compared to the US armed forces.
In this context, FT quoted Dennis Wilder, former head of the CIA’s China Analysis Division, as saying, "If confirmed, this new advanced underground command bunker for military leadership, including President Xi as Chairman of the Central Military Commission, signals Beijing's intention to develop not only a world-class conventional force but also an advanced nuclear warfare capability."
Meanwhile, the Chinese embassy in Washington said it was "not aware of the details" but stressed that China was "committed to the path of peaceful development and a defense policy of a defensive nature."
