Recent satellite images have revealed that China's military is building precise replicas of US aircraft carriers and destroyers in the Taklamakan Desert to use as missile targets, as tensions over Taiwan escalate. The copies are virtually identical to American warships, allowing Beijing to rehearse strikes with pinpoint accuracy.
Replicas in the Desert
First spotted in February, a three-dimensional copy of a US Arleigh Burke-class destroyer has been taking shape in the remote desert, nestled between two mountain ranges. The intricate replica features a full mast and aspects of its radar systems. Three months on, the construction appears nearly finished, though its location 1,678 miles from any body of water suggests it will never sail.
Damien Symon, a geo-intelligence researcher at AI-analysis firm The Intel Lab, told The Telegraph that the precision of the replicas "signals a highly specific focus on potential adversaries rather than generic capability building."
Signaling and Preparation
Beyond replicating warships, China has built life-size models of key government structures and Taiwan's presidential palace, according to Express US. This suggests the People's Liberation Army is contemplating an attack on the capital. Beijing is using these mock-ups to test long-range weapons and new AI systems.
Thomas Shugart, a senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security and a former US Navy submarine commander, said the replicas serve as a messaging tool. "It's messaging to Japan that 'if there's a fight, you're going to be in it'. It's messaging to the US that 'if you try to intervene, we're going to strike your bases'. And messaging to Taiwan that 'we are practicing to take your capital'," he told The Telegraph.
US Military Presence and Taiwan
The United States deploys more than 55,000 troops in Japan under a mutual security treaty, its largest military presence abroad. Destroyer Squadron 15 oversees 10 Arleigh Burke-class ships permanently stationed at Yokosuka. Lu Li-shih, a former lieutenant commander in Taiwan's navy, told The Telegraph: "It's one of the most important US bases. If China attacked Taiwan, the Yokosuka Naval Base would presumably be involved, so they include a model of Yokosuka for anti-access and area denial drills."
While it remains unclear whether Washington would formally protect Taiwan during an assault, most analysts believe the US would likely intervene. Without American support, the self-ruled island would struggle to preserve its independence.
