China recently unveiled what satellite imagery shows to be its most ambitious military mega-project to date: a massive underground hub that spans 1,500 acres and is expected to grow into the world’s largest military command center. Fundamentally, this enormous complex represents Beijing’s resolve to combine innovative 21st-century technologies with shelter concepts from the Cold War. Chinese military engineers have been secretly developing hardened underground bunkers that can withstand the most devastating attacks since the 1980s. These dispersed installations are now coming together to form what experts predict will be an underground stronghold built to withstand the most intense bombardment possible.
This construction’s worldwide ramifications are already causing tremors well beyond East Asia. Diplomats whispered about a changing balance of power at the recent Munich Security Conference. The sentiment was aptly expressed by former U.S. Pacific Fleet deputy commander Admiral Jane Colbert (ret.): “We’re witnessing a paradigm shift in how nations protect leadership in conflict scenarios.” The surrounding nations are on high alert. The possibility that the hub could house sophisticated communications systems and underground missile command centers has caused “serious concern” according to Japan’s Ministry of Defense. Concerned that this stronghold might give Beijing a clear command and control advantage in any future conflict, the Pentagon in Washington is quietly stepping up its efforts to increase its presence across the Pacific.
According to military analysts, the complex’s resilience is ensured by hardened fiber-optic links, shielding against electromagnetic pulses, and redundant power plants. According to some reports, its design even outstrips that of the fabled Cheyenne Mountain Complex in America. It’s easy to understand why China would want to imitate and build upon such a model, as I have personally experienced the reverberating tunnels of Cheyenne Mountain, recalling the hum of generators and the uncanny sense of permanence.
Responses vary from apprehensive to realistic throughout the region. “It feels like we’re living in a sci-fi novel now,” a friend said over coffee in Seoul, but his anxious expression conveyed more than just words. To counter what some perceive to be a new underground arms race, ASEAN defense planners are already talking about conducting joint drills. It remains to be seen if China’s leaders can strike a balance between assurance and secrecy. There is no doubt that this secret stronghold has become a new fault line that could put regional stability to the ultimate test.