There is a robust and highly technologically advanced underground facility programme in China to conceal and protect the country's military forces, including weapons of mass destruction, logistics, and modernised missile, ground, air, and naval forces. There are thousands of such facilities in the country, and China is building more each year, a report by the US Department of Defence titled '2024 Report on Military and Security Developments Involving the People's Republic of China' revealed.
These bunkers enable China to protect its valuable assets from the effects of missile strikes and conceal military operations from enemies in the event of conflicts. China's emphasis on strategic deterrence has contributed to the construction of such facilities for the country’s nuclear forces, which aims to survive an initial nuclear first-strike by an enemy, the report said.
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China will likely continue to develop and expand its underground facility programme to support its expanding forces and military modernisation, the report added.
Meanwhile, the report suggests that over the next decade, China is expected to continue to rapidly modernise, diversify, and expand its nuclear forces.
China "seeks a larger and more diverse nuclear force, comprised of systems ranging from low-yield precision strike missiles to ICBMs with multi-megaton yields to provide it options at every rung of the escalation ladder." the report said.
China's land-based nuclear force primarily consists of intercontinental ballistic missiles with different basing modes, complemented by theater-range road-mobile systems.
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The PLARF (People's Liberation Army Rocket Force) uses a set of operational procedures to keep part of its force at heightened readiness during peacetime, the report stated and added that "This readiness posture allows the PLARF to maintain a portion of its units on a heightened state of readiness while leaving the other portion in peacetime status with separated launchers, missiles, and warheads."
PLA’s nuclear expansion and modernisation very likely are tied to its overall military strategy—seeking to close capability gaps and become a competitive global power.