Amid a major diplomatic tussle with the United States, China is probably preparing to test a new generation of nuclear arms to increase the lethality of its rapidly expanding missile force, a report by the New York Times said.

Supported by satellite images, the report asserts the validity of apprehensions regarding China's old base Lop Nur. This facility, where China conducted its inaugural atomic bomb test almost six decades ago, has witnessed substantial infrastructural installments recently, notably featuring the addition of a deep vertical shaft.

The images appear to indicate that China may soon be in a position to conduct full-fledged nuclear tests or, possibly, subcritical nuclear explosions. Subcritical experiments simulate nuclear explosions by using chemical explosives.

Chinese authorities have recently restarted excavation and construction in the horizontal tunnels bored into the side of the mountains. In the past, nuclear weapons tests were conducted using these tunnels. The development of multiple additional roads surrounding the location is also confirmed by the satellite images.

"By 2017, an old site with a handful of buildings had turned into a slick, ultramodern complex ringed by security fences," says The New York Times. "Its new structures included a bunker protected by earthen berms and lightning arresters, making it ideal for handling high explosives."

The experts suggest that the developments observed at Lop Nur indicate a comprehensive modernization effort within China's nuclear infrastructure. They caution that this could accelerate the expansion of military arsenals and potentially initiate a new era of nuclear competition.

“All the evidence points to China making preparations that would let it resume nuclear tests," Tong Zhao, a nuclear expert told the New York Times.

The analysis by The New York Times is based on evidence provided by Dr Renny Babiarz, a leading international geospatial intelligence expert. Dr Barbiarz, a former Pentagon analyst, spent years studying satellite imagery of the Lop Nur facility where China conducted its first nuclear tests on October 16, 1964.

A recent photograph obtained by Dr. Babiarz reveals not just the drilling rig but also a collection of drill pipes and a nearby reservoir of lubricating fluid designed to facilitate the drilling process further. Dr. Babiarz approximates that the borehole was intended to reach a depth of at least one-third of a mile, comparable in depth to the vertical shafts created by the United States at its Nevada test site.

The photographs also depict a miniature township, presumed to be a support infrastructure for operations at Lop Nur. Within this settlement, identified as Malan, there is a drilling rig that bears a striking resemblance to the one present at the Lop Nur site, despite being situated hundreds of kilometers away. This is believed to serve as a "training site for shaft drillers."

China, for its part, has dismissed the report saying that it was "clutching at shadows, groundlessly whipping up a 'China nuclear threat'."

These revelations come at a sensitive juncture in the relationship between the United States and China. The two nations have recently initiated discussions to re-engage on certain military terms, and the speculation surrounding potential new nuclear tests could disrupt these critical deliberations.

According to Pentagon projections, if China continues its current rate of force expansion, it could deploy 1,500 nuclear warheads by 2035. This anticipated quantity represents a fivefold rise from the "minimum deterrent" that China maintained for over 50 years.

Image source: X