By Yew Lun Tian

BEIJING, (Reuters) – China’s military built mockups of a U.S. Navy plane carrier and other U.S warships to train in the desert at Xinjiang. Satellite images from Maxar on Sunday showed this.

This mockup reflects China’s effort to develop anti-carrier capabilities against the U.S Navy as tensions with Washington remain high over Taiwan and South China Sea.

Satellite images revealed a detailed outline of the U.S. carrier, along with at least two Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyers. These were built at an apparently new Taklamakan Desert target range.

This complex was used to test ballistic missiles, according to the U.S. Naval Institute reported https://news.usni.org/2021/11/07/china-builds-missile-targets-shaped-like-u-s-aircraft-carrier-destroyers-in-remote-desert, quoting geospatial intelligence company All Source Analysis.

China’s anti-ship ballistic missile programs are managed by the People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force. China’s defense ministry didn’t immediately reply to our request for comment.

According to the Pentagon’s most recent annual report, China’s military has reported that in July 2020 the PLARF fired six DF-21 anti ship ballistic missiles (anti-ship) into waters north of Spratly Islands. China is disputing its territorial claims with Taiwan, and four other Southeast Asian nations.

Antony Blinken, the U.S. Secretary for State, stated in July that the United States would defend the Philippines against any attack in South China Sea. He also warned China not to engage in “provocative behavior”.