China is expanding its capacity to store and launch nuclear missiles, US scientists say.
Satellite images from Xinjiang province in the west of the country suggest it is building a nuclear missile silo field, a report from the Federation of American Scientists (FAS) says.
US defence officials have expressed concern about China’s nuclear build-up.
It is the second new silo field reported to be under construction in western China in the last two months.
The site could house about 110 silos, which are underground facilities used for the storing and launching of missiles.
Last month, the Washington Post newspaper reported 120 silos spotted at a site in a desert area in Yumen, in Gansu province.
The FAS said in its report on Monday that the new site at Hami, about 380 km (240 miles) north-west of Yumen, was at a much earlier stage of development.
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