Is China preparing for invasion? A “mini-Taipei” has been built in the desert for exercises.

New satellite images, analyzed by a Japanese think tank, show that China has significantly expanded a military training base that is, in effect, a scaled-down replica of Taipei's government district. This signals that, despite official pronouncements, military intervention for Taiwan is far from off the table.

The base in question is Zhurihe, located in the Inner Mongolia region. This isn't entirely new: in 2015, Chinese state media showed footage of troops storming a facility identical to the Taiwanese presidential palace. What worries analysts is the site's recent and rapid expansion.

What's in “fake Taipei”?

Analysis by the Japan Institute for National Fundamentals, reported by the Sankei Shimbun newspaper, highlights how the training complex has nearly tripled in size since 2020. New construction includes:

• A replica of the Judicial Yuan: Taiwan's highest judicial body.
• Buildings similar to Taiwan's Ministries of Defense and Foreign Affairs .
• An underground tunnel nearly 300 meters long: Connected to the mock courthouse, likely to simulate escape or infiltration scenarios into the capital's critical infrastructure.

Satellite images show not only empty buildings, but feverish activity. In July 2022, People's Liberation Army (PLA) forces were observed setting up checkpoints around mock ministries before bringing in armored vehicles. The following month, a brigade-sized unit was seen training in simulated combat against forces defending the replica presidential palace.

According to Maki Nakagawa, a researcher at the think tank, the goal is twofold: "To put pressure on Taiwan and warn it that, even with tunnels, there is no escape." Beijing, in short, is moving toward real "combat-oriented training."

A political message, as well as a military one

The construction of these increasingly detailed models isn't just a matter of tactical preparation. It's a clear political message sent to Taipei and Washington. Chinese President Xi Jinping, in his recent National Day address, reiterated the need to "firmly oppose separatist activities" and "external interference."

Taiwan's reaction was swift. Defense Minister Wellington Koo stated that Taipei is aware of these developments and has already taken precautions against a possible "decapitation operation," a targeted attack aimed at eliminating the island's political and military leadership.

While the United States continues to supply defensive weapons to Taiwan under the Taiwan Relations Act, China isn't just building fake palaces. In recent years, the PLA has intensified amphibious exercises and begun using replicas of Western and Taiwanese weapons systems, such as the US-made HIMARS rocket launchers.

The Chinese leadership continues to declare its preference for "peaceful reunification." However, the massive investment in simulating an invasion down to the last detail, in the middle of the Mongolian desert, suggests that Beijing is preparing with extreme seriousness for a far from peaceful alternative. And as they say, actions speak much louder than words.

Questions and Answers from the article

1) Why is China building such a detailed replica of Taipei?

The construction of a "mini-Taipei" serves a dual purpose, strategic and psychological. Strategically, it allows the People's Liberation Army's special forces and assault units to train in an extremely realistic urban scenario, simulating a "decapitation" operation aimed at neutralizing Taiwan's leadership. Psychologically, it sends a powerful message of intimidation to Taipei and a warning to Washington, demonstrating that Beijing is actively preparing for the military option and not just considering it a remote possibility.

2) What is the main new development that emerged from recent satellite images?

What's new isn't the base itself, known since 2015, but its rapid and significant expansion. Since 2020, the complex has nearly tripled in size, with the addition of new replicas of key government buildings such as the Judicial Yuan and the Ministries of Defense and Foreign Affairs. The most significant development is the discovery of a long underground tunnel, indicating planning for more complex combat scenarios, including underground operations. This suggests a shift from general training to highly specialized, invasion-oriented training.

3) How are Taiwan and the United States reacting to this escalation?

Taiwan has stated that it is fully aware of Chinese activities at the Zhurihe base. The Ministry of Defense confirmed that it has taken specific countermeasures to prevent a surprise attack aimed at the country's leadership, although it did not provide specific details. The United States, while maintaining an official policy of "strategic ambiguity," continues to support Taiwan by providing defensive weapons, as required by the Taiwan Relations Act. Washington opposes any attempt to forcefully alter the status quo in the Taiwan Strait.

The article "Is China Preparing for Invasion?" A "Mini-Taipei" Built in the Desert for Exercises comes from Scenari Economici .

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This is a machine translation of a post published on Scenari Economici at the URL https://scenarieconomici.it/la-cina-si-prepara-allinvasione-costruita-una-mini-taipei-nel-deserto-per-le-esercitazioni/ on Fri, 03 Oct 2025 14:58:35 +0000.