A leading US lawmaker who fears budget cuts could delay modernizing the US nuclear arsenal voiced concern Friday about an extensive tunnel complex designed to house Chinese nuclear missiles.
"This network of tunnels could be in excess of 5,000 kilometers (3,110 miles), and is used to transport nuclear weapons and forces," said Michael Turner, who chairs a House Armed Services Committee panel focusing on strategic weapons and other security programs.
"As we strive to make our nuclear forces more transparent, China is building this underground tunnel system to make its nuclear forces even more opaque," he added, citing an unclassified Department of Defense report.
Experts also expressed their concern about the network, whose existence was revealed by official Chinese media in late 2009.
"US worries?" They ought to be downright disturbed. Either the fix is in, and the USA's days are numbered, or we've got technology so far beyond missiles carrying nukes, that it's all moot now. To read more, click here.