China Revives Cold War Defense Plan

China Revives Cold War-Era Defense Plan: A New Cold War?

China is resurrecting its Third Front defense plan, initially launched by Mao Zedong in 1964 to build secret factories in remote mountains. The plan, which cost over two hundred billion yuan and mobilized fifteen million workers, was designed to create a hidden industrial backbone against potential attacks from the US or Soviets.

After Maos death in 1976 and improved ties with America, leader Deng Xiaoping shut down most sites by the 1980s, shifting focus to economic growth. The factories turned into ruins, and nearby villages emptied out as young people chased city jobs.

However, with US-China tensions rising, Xi Jinping is echoing the strategy. In July 2024, the Communist Party greenlit boosting inland defenses and key industries for self-reliance. Satellite images show nuclear sites expanding near old factories, with China holding around six hundred warheads, projected to double soon.

Defense spending has tripled since Xi took power in 2012, reaching about a third of Americas at three hundred seventeen billion six hundred million dollars. The focus is on second-strike power in a new cold war vibe, prioritizing resilience over rusty relics.

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