July 30, 2021

A New Tunnel Is Spotted At A Chinese Nuclear Test Site

Source: NPR

Journalist: Geoff Brumfiel

China appears to be expanding its sprawling nuclear weapons testing complex in the nation's western desert. Satellite imagery shared exclusively with NPR shows a possible new tunnel being dug and fresh roads added at the site, known as Lop Nur, where China has tested its nuclear weapons in the past.

"This is new construction linked to areas that have in the past supported nuclear test activities," says Renny Babiarz, vice president for analysis and operations at AllSource Analysis, a private geospatial analysis firm that spotted the tunnel using satellite imagery from the commercial company Planet.

Read the full story and more from NPR.

Author

  • Lt. Gen. Robert Ashley, Jr. (Ret.)

    Adjunct Senior Fellow

    Lieutenant General Robert P. Ashley, Jr. retired from the U.S. Army November 2020 after over 36 years of activity duty service as an intelligence officer. He assumed his last ...