China is constructing a massive laser facility dedicated to fusion research.
Jason Deegan reports on this development.
Initially, the structure merely sparked curiosity, but experts now view it as a potential turning point—both for clean energy and covert weapons development. Specialists caution that the facility could shift the balance in global technological competition, raising questions about the future of energy and global security.
While examining satellite images with a former military analyst, the author observed the complex’s unusual star-shaped design—four enormous “beams” converging toward a central point. Dubbed the Large Laser Fusion Laboratory, its main chamber appears roughly 50% larger than the U.S. National Ignition Facility (NIF), a $3.5 billion-funded project long considered the leader in fusion research.
This new complex underscores China’s bold ambitions to dominate this cutting-edge field.