China’s nuclear warhead storage a ‘highly concentrated risk’, US report says
A single narrow road provides the only access to China's primary nuclear storage facility, creating a critical vulnerability.
A new report from a U.S. Air Force-affiliated think tank has identified a major potential vulnerability in China's nuclear deterrent. The analysis, published by the China Aerospace Studies Institute (CASI) at the U.S. Air University, details that the majority of China's nuclear warhead stockpile is managed and stored at a single, centralized facility deep within the country's northwest. This site, identified as Base 67 or Hongchuan, is located in the remote Qinling Mountains and is described as being accessible only by one narrow road.
This geographical and logistical setup presents what the report terms a 'highly concentrated risk.' While the underground facility itself is reportedly hardened and well-guarded, the reliance on a single point of access creates a critical chokepoint. The analysis, based on open-source intelligence, suggests that blocking or damaging this sole road could cause serious delays to China's military operations and its ability to deploy its strategic nuclear forces during a conflict, undermining the reliability of its second-strike capability.
- The U.S. Air University's China Aerospace Studies Institute (CASI) published the report based on open-source intelligence.
- Most of China's nuclear warheads are stored at a single facility, Base 67 (Hongchuan), in the Qinling Mountains.
- The facility's only access is a single narrow road, creating a strategic chokepoint and 'highly concentrated risk.'
Why It Matters
The finding highlights a potential strategic weakness in China's nuclear command structure, impacting global security assessments and deterrence calculations.