The world witnessed numerous conflicts in 2024, including ongoing tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan and devastating wars between Russia and Ukraine, as well as Gaza and Israel. Unfortunately, these global conflicts show no signs of ending. The question now is: is China preparing to enter the feud?

Chairman Xi Jinping has clarified that he is serious about preparing the People's Liberation Army (PLA) for war. These preparations are evident in strengthening military air bases and constructing a new command complex designed to protect personnel from potential attacks.

Satellite images show the PLA working on various infrastructure projects, with the most significant being the development of a new command complex. Located about 25-30 km southwest of Beijing, this high-security facility is currently under construction.

In January, the Financial Times reported on this command complex, noting that it is being built to serve as a wartime command-and-control centre for the PLA. Covering an area of approximately 1,500 acres, the facility is particularly noteworthy for its scale, ten times larger than the Pentagon.

Satellite images reveal large holes being dug, which will eventually hold reinforced bunkers, likely capable of withstanding nuclear attacks. Once finished, this facility is expected to become the world’s largest military command centre. The site has already earned the nickname Beijing Military City, and more than 100 cranes are reportedly operating there every day.

The command complex spans about 4 kilometres in width, with construction taking place at significant depths to make it more resistant to bombings or large-scale attacks, thus offering better survival chances. While details about this new facility in China are scarce, verifying the reports about the complex remains difficult.

According to the report, there are several underground nodes linked by tunnels, resembling a subway system. These unconfirmed details raise important questions about China’s new military command centre, making it essential to address these concerns quickly for global security.

Could analysts be wrong, and the area might actually just be a residential development? The location certainly stands out, especially considering the lack of major new residential projects in China amid its ongoing economic slump.

Interestingly, there is no commercial advertising or marketing linked to any development in this area near Beijing. Additionally, there is no information about the project circulating online in China, which suggests it could be a highly secretive project for the military.

While there are no visible military personnel guarding the large construction site, public access is strictly prohibited, with checkpoints preventing anyone from entering. Photography and drone usage are prohibited, and nearby hiking and tourist destinations have been closed off. Homes in the neighbouring Qinglonghu area have also been demolished to make room for the new construction. Work at the site began in mid-2024, with the approximate coordinates being 39°49’7.65″N 116° 3’58.22″E.

According to a report by ANI, the large-scale initiative is not unexpected, as the Chinese Communist Party is entirely focused on preparing for the PLA’s 100th anniversary in 2027. By this milestone, Xi Jinping aims to have the capability to attack Taiwan. He has instructed the PLA to “accelerate the integrated development of mechanisation, informatisation and intelligentisation while boosting the speed of modernisation in military theories, organisations, personnel and weapons and equipment”.

At the time of writing, China’s Foreign Ministry had not commented on the purpose or existence of the new construction. The Chinese Embassy in Washington told the Financial Times that it was “not aware of the details”. It highlighted China was “committed to the path of peaceful development and a defence policy that is defensive in nature.”

The primary secure headquarters for the PLA and the Central Military Commission (CMC), led by Xi Jinping, is situated in the Western Hills of Beijing at coordinates approximately 40°0’39.27″N 116°14’10.70″E. Known as the Joint Combat Command Centre, this substantial underground facility, although significant, is outdated and was built several decades ago during the Cold War.