Satellite imaging has discovered what appear to be full-scale replicas of US warships in a Chinese desert, agencies reported on Monday.
Images taken last month by US-based company Maxar Technologies show the outlines of a US aircraft carrier and at least one destroyer in the Taklamakan Desert in the northwestern Xinjiang region.
The past few years have been marked by heightened tensions between the US and China over diplomatic and military dominance in the Pacific region.
The rivals are also locked in a renewed arms race, with top US military officials recently expressing concern over China’s growing nuclear arsenal and its progress in developing hypersonic missiles.
Massive aircraft carriers are some of the most potent weapons at Washington’s disposal. One such carrier is active in the Pacific along with the 7th Fleet.
Taiwan and the overlapping claims by China and US allies in the South China Sea are deemed to be particularly sensitive possible flashpoints.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin responded to questions about the mock-ups on Monday, saying “I’m not aware of the situation you mentioned.”
