Is THIS where the world’s first ‘artificial Sun’ will be born? Vast Chinese fusion facility may also have deadly purpose
Is THIS where the world’s first ‘artificial Sun’ will be born? Vast Chinese fusion facility may also have deadly purpose
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A NEW Chinese fusion facility may be where the world's first "artificial sun" is born - but could also be used to develop deadly nuclear weapons. Experts have said a huge laser fusion research centre is being built in the southwestern city of Mianyang that could have multiple uses.
![[Satellite image of a large-scale laser fusion research center in Mianyang, China.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/satellite-photo-shows-new-large-967368536.jpg?strip=all&w=949)
The lab will be even bigger than the US's National Ignition Facility (NIF) in Northern Carolina. Satellite images show four "arms" of the building sticking out that will be home to laser bays, and a central chamber where hydrogen will fuse together. William Alberque, a nuclear policy analyst, said: "Any country with an NIF-type facility can and probably will be increasing their confidence and improving existing weapons designs, and facilitating the design of future bomb designs without testing.".
![[The Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST), also known as the Artificial Sun, at the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science in China.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/hefei-institute-physical-science-chinese-965533905.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
In November 2020, US arms official Marshall Billingslea released satellite images he said showed China's build-up of nuclear weapons support facilities. It included images of a cleared plot of land in Mianyang labelled "new research or production areas since 2010".
![[Two men embracing in celebration after achieving a new world record for the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST).]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/066-seconds-monday-setting-new-965239922.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
That plot is the same site as the fusion research centre, called the Laser Fusion Major Device Laboratory, according to Reuters. China has also been trying to build an "artificial sun" that would be a source of unlimited energy for the Earth. It would require a highly-specialised facility, and that could be what this new lab in Mianyang is destined for.
