CHINA UPGRADING NUCLEAR MISSILE SITE NEAR INDIA
Less than a month after China’s new nuclear submarine base came to light, latest satellite images revealed by international watch groups show that Beijing is upgrading and extending its nuclear missile deployment site that is nearest to India. The worry for India could be up gradation from liquid to solid fuel for its intermediate missile range to match the Agni-III that was successfully test fired by India about fifteen days ago. The range of China’s intermediate missiles is 2200 to 3000 kilometers.
China also has intercontinental missiles. The previous Chinese missiles deployed near India needed 2-3 hours preparation time but the new one’s need only a few minutes.
The images reveal that the Delingha missile base, located 1900 km northeast of New Delhi, in the central province of Qinghai, has recently been upgraded and new missile launch sites have been added at the military facility.
Experts analyzing the new satellite imagery have identified 58 launch pads, many of which has been added within the last four years. New command and control facilities and missile deployment equipment are also visible at the base.
China appears to be building launch pads in the area not for India which is within China’s nuclear range since years, but that is to escape the US and Russian counterforce targeting. India is still many years away from counter force capability.. But experts say that the missiles deployed there are likely to targeted only against threats from India and Russia. Other traditional rivals, like Japan, Taiwan and the US are out of reach from the base.
-DR. NAVRAJ SINGH SANDHU, www.navraj@gmail.com
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