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Updated Sunday, October 16, 2011 10:43 pm TWN, AFP

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Lawmaker in US warns of Chinese nuclear network

WASHINGTON -- A leading U.S. lawmaker who fears budget cuts could delay modernizing the U.S. nuclear arsenal voiced concern Friday about an extensive tunnel complex designed to house Chinese nuclear missiles.

“This network of tunnels could be in excess of 5,000 kilometers (3,110 miles), and is used to transport nuclear weapons and forces,” said Michael Turner, who chairs a House Armed Services Committee panel focusing on strategic weapons and other security programs.

“As we strive to make our nuclear forces more transparent, China is building this underground tunnel system to make its nuclear forces even more opaque,” he added, citing an unclassified Department of Defense report.

Experts also expressed their concern about the network, the existence of which was revealed by Chinese media in late 2009.

The tunnels would allow China to launch a nuclear counter-attack if it was hit by a nuclear strike. “It's almost mind-boggling,” said an analyst at the National Institute for Public Policy.

“It has enormous implications in terms of their view toward nuclear warfare, survivability of their systems and their leadership in the event of war.”

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