China builds realistic mock-ups of U.S. naval bases and questions U.S. damage reports

China has constructed large-scale replicas of U.S. aircraft carriers, Arleigh‑Burke‑class destroyers, and naval bases such as Yokosuka in Japan, as well as Taiwanese facilities, within desert training fields like Ruoqiang in the Taklamakan. The models match real dimensions, incorporate measurement instruments and move on rails, allowing Chinese forces to practice detection, tracking and missile impact against specific adversary targets, including simulated attacks on F‑16, F‑22 and F‑35 fighters.

Separately, researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences examined satellite imagery of U.S. military installations in the Middle East and found the physical destruction to be greater than U.S. officials described. They noted a mismatch with both Washington’s “minimal damage” claims and Tehran’s assertions of major losses, stating, “La magnitud de la destrucción observada indica impactos físicos que superan las caracterizaciones de 'daños mínimos' o 'defensa exitosa'”. The analysis highlights Chinese scrutiny of U.S. bases through both physical mock‑ups and remote‑sensing assessments.