China prepares for war? PLA expands air bases, digs underground

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): The year 2024 has seen continued global conflicts with tensions escalating in regions like Pakistan and Afghanistan, and the devastating wars between Russia and Ukraine as well as Gaza and Israel. Amidst this unrest, concerns are growing about China's military preparations. Is China gearing up for war? Chinese President Xi Jinping has been making strong statements urging the People's Liberation Army (PLA) to prepare for potential conflict. This message is being visibly reflected in significant military infrastructure projects. One of the most notable developments is a new command complex under construction near Beijing which is raising alarm among analysts and experts worldwide. Satellite imagery shows that the PLA is building a massive new command center approximately 25-30 km southwest of Beijing. This complex is expected to serve as a high-security wartime command-and-control hub for the PLA. The facility spans about 1,500 acres making it ten times the size of the Pentagon and is designed to be resilient against nuclear strikes. With deep underground bunkers and tunnels the site is being constructed to withstand bombings and large-scale attacks, ensuring that it remains operational in times of war.

The construction site is active with over 100 cranes working daily and the scale of the project has led some observers to call it "Beijing Military City." It is believed that the site will contain subterranean nodes connected by tunnels, which resemble a subway system, though these details remain largely unverified. Despite the secrecy surrounding the construction, the fact that the area is off-limits to the public and the Chinese internet has remained quiet on the matter points to the top-secret nature of this project. The lack of any commercial development or advertising around the site, combined with the bulldozing of nearby houses in the Qinglonghu area, suggests that this is a military-only project. The work began in mid-2024, with coordinates indicating its location. The sheer size of the facility and the secrecy surrounding its purpose have led to speculation that China is preparing for military escalation with some analysts pointing to Xi's goal of preparing the PLA for potential conflict with Taiwan by 2027.

The Chinese government has not commented on the project, with the Foreign Ministry stating that it is unaware of the details. While China continues to insist that it is committed to peaceful development and a defensive defense policy these large-scale military preparations are raising concerns globally. This development is part of a broader effort by Xi to modernize the PLA ahead of its 100th anniversary in 2027. Xi's goals include accelerating the mechanization, informatization and intelligentization of China's military, signaling a shift toward modernizing military capabilities in anticipation of future challenges. While the new command complex and its construction are shrouded in secrecy, this massive infrastructure project serves as a reminder of China's growing military ambitions and the rising tensions in the Asia-Pacific region. As these developments unfold, the international community is left to watch closely with global security implications at stake.