China actively preparing for war against the US - details

Satellite images show that China has placed mock-ups of American F-35 and F-16 fighter jets, Patriot air defense systems, and a Japanese E-767 AWACS aircraft at a new training range in the Xinjiang desert. This indicates the rehearsal of scenarios for a potential conflict over Taiwan and Japan. Since 2021, China has been making its mock-ups of US and Japanese military equipment increasingly sophisticated for training and testing.

Satellite images published on September 20, 2026, reveal that China has placed mock-ups of American F-35 and F-16 fighter jets, Patriot surface-to-air missile systems, and a Japanese E-767 airborne early warning and control aircraft at a new training range in the Xinjiang desert. The E-767 mock-up is particularly notable, as these aircraft are exclusively operated by Japan. This may indicate that China is rehearsing scenarios related to a potential conflict over Taiwan and Japan. Since 2021, China has been gradually increasing the sophistication of mock-ups of US and Japanese military equipment placed at ranges in the Xinjiang deserts. These are used for military training, weapons testing, and calibrating missile systems. The appearance of mock-ups of Patriot systems and equipment characteristic of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces may indicate an expansion of the range of targets on which the Chinese military practices potential scenarios. The article also references previous publications about the construction of China's Type 004 aircraft carrier and large-scale seabed surveys in the Pacific, Indian, and Arctic Oceans.