China Building New Military Command Center 10 Times the Size of the Pentagon

China is constructing a large military command center near Beijing, which U.S. intelligence estimates is about ten times the size of the Pentagon.

The center is being designed to protect military leaders in scenarios involving nuclear war, as per U.S. intelligence assessments. Satellite imagery has provided insights into the scale and ongoing construction, the Financial Times has reported.

“If confirmed, this new advanced underground command bunker for the military leadership, including President Xi (Jinping) as the chairman of the Central Military Commission, signals Beijing’s intent to build not only a world-class conventional force but also an advanced nuclear warfighting capability,” said Dennis Wilder, the former head of China analysis for the CIA.

The facility, located roughly 30 km southwest of Beijing, spans approximately 1,500 acres. Satellite images indicate deep excavations, which military experts suggest are for underground bunkers designed to protect Chinese military leadership. U.S. intelligence officials, who are closely monitoring the project, have described it as the world's largest known military command center.

Renny Babiarz, a former imagery analyst at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, noted at least 100 cranes were operating over a five-square-kilometre area developing underground infrastructure. He suggested imagery analysis pointed to several possible underground facilities connected by passageways, though further data was needed for a complete assessment. Babiarz is now vice-president of analysis and operations at AllSource Analysis.

The construction, which reportedly began in mid-2024, aligns with the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) broader modernization efforts. The PLA is expanding its nuclear arsenal, developing new weapons, and enhancing integration among its military branches. President Xi has directed the PLA to achieve the capability to conduct operations against Taiwan by 2027, as per American intelligence.

Experts suggest that the new command center may replace China’s existing wartime headquarters in the Western Hills, built during the Cold War. The new facility is expected to provide improved protection against precision-guided munitions and nuclear strikes while offering advanced communications capabilities.

U.S. officials have refrained from commenting on the project, while the Chinese embassy in Washington has stated that it is unaware of the details but reaffirmed China’s commitment to a defensive military policy. Analysts believe the site's massive scale and underground fortifications indicate a shift in China’s strategic military planning.