China has constructed a full-scale 3D replica of a U.S. Navy destroyer in the Taklamakan Desert, according to satellite imagery analyzed by experts. The model, believed to be of an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, measures approximately 510 feet long and features details such as a helicopter launch system, a bridge, and deck guns, similar to U.S. naval vessels.
This development was identified by Joseph Wu, co-founder of the Taiwan Defense Studies Initiative. The practice of China building mock U.S. naval vessels in the desert is not new. In 2021, satellite images showed similar mockups of an aircraft carrier and at least two Arleigh Burke-class destroyers in the same desert region, part of China's Xinjiang province.
Experts suggest that these replicas are used by Beijing to conduct military tests, potentially simulating missile attacks against U.S. naval assets. The development comes amid ongoing tensions between China and the United States, particularly regarding Taiwan, which China considers a breakaway province.
In addition to naval replicas, the People's Liberation Army has also reportedly built scale models of Taiwanese government buildings for military exercises. China's President Xi Jinping has stated that annexing Taiwan remains a top priority, a move that could potentially lead to direct conflict with the United States, which has repeatedly cautioned Beijing against invading the island.
Chinese officials have not commented on the construction of these desert replicas. The Taklamakan Desert has previously been used by China for constructing mock military assets, including warships and aircraft carriers.