China expands 'mock Taipei' base, adds underground tunnel for Taiwan drills

China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) is significantly expanding its "mock Taipei" training base in Inner Mongolia, according to a report by Britain's The Telegraph, citing satellite imagery. The base, designed to simulate Taiwan's capital, including key government buildings like the Presidential Office and the Ministry of Justice, has reportedly tripled in size since 2020.

The latest satellite photos reveal a new 280-meter underground tunnel connecting the simulated Presidential Office and Ministry of Justice. This addition suggests the PLA is enhancing its training for urban warfare, moving beyond ground assaults to incorporate underground operations.

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The PLA has been continuously building various simulation facilities in recent years. Our military has a comprehensive grasp of this and continues to closely monitor their training dynamics. We will prudently respond to all related threats.

Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense acknowledged the PLA's ongoing construction of various simulation facilities. A spokesperson stated that Taiwan's military is closely monitoring these training activities and will prudently address any perceived threats. Japanese researcher Maki Nakagawa suggested the underground facilities could serve dual purposes: training troops for subterranean combat and psychological warfare, aiming to intimidate Taiwan by demonstrating that even underground shelters are vulnerable.

The expansion and focus on underground operations at the training base underscore the PLA's continued preparations for a potential conflict over Taiwan.

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The new underground facilities can be used for troops to practice underground search and assault operations, and may also have psychological warfare intentions, by simulating underground combat in the capital, conveying a message of intimidation to Taiwan that even important facilities with underground shelters may be attacked.