China signals buildout of nuclear missile silos for ‘strategic trump cards’

CCTV documentary interview suggests the construction was for the DF-5 series of intercontinental ballistic missiles

In an interview with state broadcaster CCTV, Cui Daohu, an officer with a PLA Rocket Force engineering unit, described his contribution to building the missile positions that he called China’s “strategic trump cards”, saying the schedule was tight but had been completed on time.

Securing Victory,part of CCTV’s programming for the 99th anniversary of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).

Although Cui did not identify the type of missile involved, he said the team faced challenges erecting an extremely heavy core component and precisely assembling two large sections on site “without a tiny scratch”.

“It falls to us to conquer the mountains and the deserts, ensuring that our country can play her ultimate strategic trump cards,” he said.