Chinese scientists have reportedly conducted a significant “doomsday” experiment to assess the resilience of their communication equipment in the event of a nuclear strike. According to a report by the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the experiment aimed to evaluate whether China’s crucial communication systems could survive and function in a high-stress scenario—potentially one involving a high-altitude nuclear explosion. This exercise, which pushed data link hardware far beyond standard military specifications, reflects China’s preparedness efforts as international nuclear threats continue to escalate.
The test reportedly subjected data link hardware to conditions simulating a nuclear explosion in the stratosphere. This type of detonation, known as a high-altitude electromagnetic pulse (HEMP) attack, can produce powerful electromagnetic pulses capable of disabling or damaging electronic equipment. Ensuring that critical military communications can endure such a scenario has become an increasingly vital concern, especially given the rising risk of nuclear conflict on the global stage.
The Chinese experiment, conducted by engineers from the China Electronics Technology Group Corporation (CETC), the country’s largest supplier of electronic warfare equipment for the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), pushed the boundaries of existing military standards. Standard military guidelines in China, as well as in the United States, require that equipment designed to resist the effects of a HEMP must operate after exposure to an electric field of 50 kilovolts per meter. However, in this test, Chinese engineers raised the exposure level to 80 kilovolts per meter, significantly exceeding both domestic and international military benchmarks.
As reported by the SCMP, a representative from the PLA Air Force equipment department observed the experiment, although the exact date and location of the trial remain classified. The results of the experiment indicated that the equipment, while experiencing a brief delay, successfully maintained the integrity of the data link communication network, confirming its resilience under extreme conditions.
Since the advent of nuclear weapons during World War II, military strategists and engineers have been working to “harden” key systems against the damaging effects of both radiation and electromagnetic pulses. These efforts are particularly important in an age where advanced communication and guidance systems are integral to a country’s ability to conduct military operations, especially during and after a nuclear event.
Radiation hardening involves designing and shielding electronic components to ensure that they can withstand the effects of radiation and EMPs, which can severely damage unprotected circuits. This is achieved through techniques such as modifying circuit architecture, applying shielding materials, and using radiation-resistant semiconductor materials. Hardened electronics play a critical role in aerospace systems, GPS networks, weather monitoring, and nuclear testing programs, among other areas.
The Chinese experiment fits into a broader global trend of nuclear powers, including the United States and Russia, modernizing and reinforcing their nuclear command, control, and communication systems to ensure they remain functional even in the event of a nuclear attack.
China’s nuclear posture is unique among the major nuclear powers due to its longstanding “no-first-use” policy. This doctrine, which China has adhered to since it first developed nuclear weapons in the 1960s, stipulates that China will not be the first to use nuclear weapons in any conflict. Instead, its nuclear forces are positioned as a deterrent, to be used only in response to a nuclear attack on Chinese territory.
However, China’s commitment to this policy has not deterred it from taking measures to ensure the survivability and effectiveness of its retaliatory capabilities. The recent doomsday experiment highlights China’s focus on maintaining robust communication systems in the event of a nuclear strike. By ensuring that its communication networks can endure even the most extreme conditions, China is reinforcing its ability to coordinate a counterstrike, should the need arise.
While the exact motivations behind this experiment are not publicly known, it likely stems from growing concerns over the possibility of nuclear conflict as geopolitical tensions have reached a boiling point in several regions of the world.
The backdrop for China’s experiment is a world increasingly fraught with nuclear threats. Since the end of the Cold War, many nuclear-armed states have not only retained their arsenals but have also begun modernizing them. Earlier this year, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres warned that the threat of nuclear conflict had reached levels not seen since the Cold War’s conclusion.
During a June 2024 Arms Control Association conference, Guterres expressed grave concern over what he termed “nuclear blackmail.” He emphasized that the international framework designed to prevent the use, testing, and proliferation of nuclear weapons was deteriorating, as countries pursued increasingly aggressive nuclear policies. This statement was delivered at a time when tensions between major powers, particularly the United States, Russia, and China, were reaching critical levels.
NATO, too, has responded to this heightened threat environment by reassessing its own nuclear posture. In June 2024, outgoing NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg announced plans to deploy more nuclear weapons across Europe, taking them out of storage and placing them on high alert. Stoltenberg’s statement came amid rising fears that Russia could resort to nuclear weapons as the war in Ukraine drags on, with Western nations providing Ukraine with increasingly advanced weaponry.
Adding to these tensions is Russia’s recent shift in its nuclear doctrine. In September 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin unveiled a revised strategy that broadens the conditions under which Moscow might use nuclear weapons. Under this new doctrine, Russia would be prepared to deploy its nuclear arsenal in response to a range of aggressive actions by foreign adversaries, including conventional military strikes and perceived threats to the survival of the Russian state.
According to sources within the Kremlin, this updated policy was driven in part by NATO’s increasing involvement in the Ukraine conflict. Putin has long warned that any attempt by Ukraine’s allies to launch longer-range attacks into Russian territory would be met with serious consequences. The new nuclear doctrine, which formalizes these warnings, has only heightened fears of a potential nuclear confrontation.
Further complicating the global nuclear landscape are ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, which have raised concerns over the security of nuclear energy facilities and the potential for nuclear escalation. Although no country in the region currently possesses nuclear weapons, several states, including Iran and Saudi Arabia, are actively pursuing nuclear technology, heightening the risk of a regional nuclear arms race.
In particular, the threat of attacks on nuclear energy facilities has become a growing concern for both regional governments and international observers. The vulnerability of these facilities to both conventional and unconventional attacks—including cyberattacks and sabotage—could have devastating consequences, potentially leading to widespread radioactive contamination and mass casualties.
China’s recent experiment underscores the complex and evolving nature of nuclear strategy in the 21st century. As tensions rise among the world’s nuclear-armed states, the importance of nuclear resilience—both in terms of maintaining communications and protecting critical infrastructure—has taken on new significance.
While China remains committed to its no-first-use policy, the country’s ongoing efforts to safeguard its military communications systems suggest that it is taking the prospect of nuclear conflict seriously. These preparations mirror similar efforts by the United States and Russia, both of which have invested heavily in modernizing their nuclear forces in recent years.
