China military simulation of U.S. naval assets

China has developed large-scale, realistic military replicas in desert training environments to simulate attacks on United States and allied assets. These mock-ups, located in regions such as the Taklamakan and Gobi deserts, include life-sized models of aircraft carriers, Arleigh-Burke-class destroyers, and naval bases like Yokosuka in Japan, as well as Taiwanese facilities.

Some replicas are mobile, utilizing rail systems to allow Chinese forces to practice detection, tracking, and missile impacts against moving targets. These decoys are reportedly equipped with technology to mimic the electronic signatures of actual warships. Training exercises also involve simulated attacks on F-16, F-22, and F-35 fighter jets.

In addition to physical mock-ups, Chinese researchers have utilized satellite imagery to conduct remote-sensing assessments of U.S. military installations. Specifically, analysis of U.S. bases in the Middle East suggested that physical destruction was more significant than Washington’s “minimal damage” claims indicated, noting that “La magnitud de la destrucción observada indica impactos físicos que superan las caracterizaciones de 'daños mínimos' o 'defensa exitosa'”.