Most of China’s nuclear warheads are located at a single facility in the country’s northwest and could be vulnerable during a conflict, according to a US think tank.
In a report published this month, the US Air University’s China Aerospace Studies Institute detailed the warhead management and logistical structure of the People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force.
The report, based on open-source intelligence, said much of China’s nuclear stockpile was stored at a single, centralised facility known as Base 67 – or Hongchuan – located deep within the Qinling Mountains.
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It is accessible only by a single, narrow road.
“While the facility is hardened and well-guarded against attack, it is a case of highly concentrated risk,” the report said.
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It added that blocking the access road could cause serious delays to China’s military operations.
