Satellite Images Show China Developing Advanced Nuclear Research Site

A newly discovered nuclear research facility in China’s Sichuan province is drawing attention from defense analysts. The site, located in Mianyang, appears to be designed for laser fusion experiments, a method that can be used for both clean energy development and weapons research.

Satellite images show a facility with a structure resembling the National Ignition Facility (NIF) in California but on a much larger scale. The complex features four laser bays positioned around a central experimental chamber, a setup known for its role in high-energy physics and nuclear fusion studies.

China’s investment in fusion research has outpaced the United States, with an estimated $1.5 billion spent annually on advancing the technology. The country’s Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) has made significant progress, recently achieving a record-breaking plasma containment of over 1,000 seconds.

Military analysts have pointed out that China’s nuclear weapons program is also expanding rapidly. The Pentagon estimates that China now has over 600 operational nuclear warheads, an increase of more than 100 in a single year. U.S. intelligence suggests China is building the capacity to manufacture even more at an accelerated pace.

The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, which both China and the U.S. have signed, bans explosive nuclear tests. However, laser fusion experiments fall outside the treaty’s restrictions, allowing China to advance its nuclear research legally while improving its weapons capabilities.

Mianyang has been a hub for China’s military and nuclear research for years. The construction of this facility adds to concerns that Beijing is developing new ways to enhance its nuclear arsenal under the guise of scientific progress.