Taiwan Requests PAC-3
July 24, 2003 :: Jane's Information Group :: News
Janes Missiles and Rockets confirms that Taiwan indeed plans on purchasing the United States’ latest operational Patriot Advanced Capability system, the PAC-3. Taiwan has formally presented their request for three Lockheed Martin Patriot PAC-3 anti-missile batteries, which the US Department of Defense is said to be currently evaluating and will likely recommend, as well as early warning radar (EWR). Taiwan already has three batteries of the PAC-2.
These purchase plans coincide with continued reports that China is increasing the number of ballistic missiles positioned off the coast of Taiwan, with some 100 DF-11 and 300 DF-15 missiles, according to Jane’s August 1 edition. (Article, Link)
» March 14 report on Taiwan’s missile defense interests
» More stories on: Allies, China, Taiwan
» Missile system details for: Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3)
Blank on Proliferation in Asia
July 22, 2003 :: Asia Times :: Analysis
Stephen Blank on the growing proliferation of ballistic missiles by China and North Korea, both of which pose a great threat to Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan, as well as the latter’s responses with missile defense. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Analysis, China, Proliferation
China Set to Test Missiles
June 20, 2003 :: Inside the Ring (Washington Times) :: News
China is reportedly planning to test three missiles in the coming weeks, the new long-range and mobile DF-31, the medium range DF-21, and the JL-2 SLBM. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: China, Proliferation, Testing - Foreign
» Missile details: CSS-5 Mod 2 (DF-21A/B), CSS-5 (DF-21), CSS-9 (DF-31/DF-31A), CSS-NX-5/CSS-NX-4 (JL-2)
Russia: China Test Launches CSS-X-9
January 22, 2003 :: Jane's Information Group :: News
The February 1 edition of Janes Missiles and Rockets reports that Russia detected a launch and test of the new Chinese mobile ICBM on November 23, 2002. The DF-31 tested, also known as the CSS-X-9, was launched from a test site at Uchzhai in the Tekimakan desert and went some 1,700 km before impact.
Janes notes that according to the Department of Defense, the DF-31 will likely be operational “before mid-decade.” (Link)
» More stories on: China, Proliferation, Testing - Foreign
» Missile details: CSS-9 (DF-31/DF-31A)
Chinese CSS-5 Test May Have Included Anti-BMD Countermeasures
September 1, 2002 :: Jane's Information Group :: News
The September 1 edition of Janes Missiles and Rockets reports that the early July test of their CSS-5 ballistic missile (range 2,150-2,500km) may have included the test of countermeasures, desinged to overcome ballistic missile defenses, such as those the United States will deploy around 2004-2005, after the June 13, 2002 withdrawal from the ABM Treaty.
If true, the timing of the test of countermeasures may very likely suggest a “message” to the United States that China will do all within its power to retain a strong offensive nuclear capability against America.
Janes cites US press reports that the missile test involved the deploying of six or seven decoy warheads besides its main payload warhead. The CSS-5 can carry a high explosive or a nuclear warhead of up to 300 kT yield.
This particular test of the CSS-5, or DF-21, began with a launch from the Jiangxi province and traveling some 1,300 km into the Kansu province. The DF-21 has a solid propellant, more advanced than liquid propellants and capable of much faster launch readiness.
According to Janes, China’s IRBM force is said to be located in the provinces of Datong in central China, Jianshui in southern China, Tonghua in northeast China, and Lianxiwang in western China. (Link)
» More stories on: China, Technology, Testing - Foreign
» Missile details: CSS-5 Mod 2 (DF-21A/B), CSS-5 (DF-21)
U.S. China Commission Report
July 15, 2002 :: U.S. China Economic and Security Review Commission :: Analysis
The annual report of the U.S. China Commission was released today. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: China
National Intelligence Estimate on the Foreign Ballistic Missile Threat
January 9, 2002 :: CIA :: News
The National Intelligence Council released the latest report on Foreign Missile Developments and the Ballistic Missile Threat Through 2015. The report concludes that the missile threat to the United States has increased since 1999 and that any future analyses of the missile threat must also include the threat posed by rogue nations and terrorist groups. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Analysis, China, India, Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Pakistan, Proliferation
Relation of Missile Defenses to China
September 4, 2001 :: The White House :: News
A release by the Press Secretary describes the relation of future missile defense programs to China, and efforts to assure Chinese concerns about US systems. The statement would seem to indicate some ambiguity in America’s relation to the communist country. While stating that “the U.S. missile defense program does not threaten China but seeks to counter limited missile threats from rogue states and the danger of accidental or unauthorized launches,” it goes on to speak of disappoval of China’s “expansion of their nuclear ballistic missile force” and their overall military expansion and modernization “initiated years” before US missile defense efforts, as well as expressing “concern” about “the export of Chinese missile technology,” and “the Chinese buildup of short-range ballistic missiles,” referring to buildup near Taiwan.
Thus, while “only those foreign parties with hostile intent toward the United States have grounds to fear U.S. missile defense,” one has to wonder whether China is among those with “hostile intent toward the United States.” (Article, Link)
» More stories on: China, Policy, Proliferation
