China’s state-run media published a video over the weekend showcasing the Chinese military’s missile capability. Now, reports say that Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen has approved a US$7.1 billion budget to upgrade the country’s missile program in response.
This rocket is not headed for space. In fact, it’s not that kind of rocket at all — it's a ballistic missile. China’s state-controlled broadcaster China Central Television published this video on August 21. It shows the Chinese army testing two new guided missile models.
Taiwanese military analyst Cheng Chi-wen says he thinks one of the missile models shown in the video is the satellite-guided DF-15. Cheng says judging by the DF-15’s range and capabilities, it was most likely designed to target Taiwan.
China supposedly has thousands of missiles pointed at Taiwan. That’s why Taiwan’s defense ministry wants to be ready in the event of a Chinese salvo. It is proposing a US$7.1 billion special budget to upgrade Taiwan’s missile production capabilities. President Tsai Ing-wen has reportedly already given her approval.
Right now, Taiwan has plans to build and renovate 12 missile bases in Miaoli to house the Taiwan-made Skybow 3 surface-to-air missile system. Cheng says that over the past few years, Taiwan has increased the Skybow’s capabilities with the goal of more effectively intercepting a Chinese missile attack.
Missile stockpiling is more mental warfare than anything else. In any event, these rockets are the kind you don’t want to hear about “blasting off.”
