China quietly rebuilds secret base for nuclear tests

News Snapshot:

The new evidence at Lop Nur was uncovered by Renny Babiarz, a former analyst at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, an arm of the Pentagon. An expert on satellite reconnaissance as well as Beijing’s nuclear program, Mr Babiarz says that detonations in the deep shafts could accelerate an effort to perfect new types of nuclear arms for the country’s fast-growing arsenal. Independent experts who have examined the satellite imagery and Mr Babiarz’s analyses share his concerns. The activity at Lop Nor comes at one of the most sensitive moments in US-China relations. President Joe Biden has said he’s trying to “stabilise”...