[KarlInOhio]

Some things are best not to be talked about in public. You don’t inform your poker opponent what his tell is. Similarly, you don’t inform your foreign adversaries how you recognized their actions.

[algore]

The only thing you can infer is that these could be decoys, or maybe not

[jz638]

Some things are best not to be talked about in public. You don’t inform your poker opponent what his tell is. Similarly, you don’t inform your foreign adversaries how you recognized their actions.

Alternatively it could be read in a different way: China spent a heap of money and time building these silos way out in the desert where they thought they wouldn't be noticed, and some college kid was able to spot them with his google machine in his spare time. Nobody in any western government has to burn a source or method and admit to knowing the same information from spy satellite or other clandestine info and China looks a little bit stupid for a news cycle. On the minus side, the Chicoms have a lot of people to throw at trying to make this college kid's life miserable and no reason not to try.