Foreign Correspondence

[Amaunet]

China to test launch three mid&long-range missiles: Report

UPDATED: 16:32, July 22, 2004

According to a report by Russian TACC, news from the Russian Ministry of National Defense has it that the Chinese Ministry of National Defense has notified the Russian Ministry of National Defense that the Chinese military plans to test launch three ballistic missiles from a missile launching site in Shanxi province to the Lop Nur (Luobubo) testing site in Xinjiang Taklamakan Desert covering a range of 2,500-plus kilometers. The news catches the attention of outsiders on China's missile strength.

The Russian TACC cited the 2002 Yearbook published by the Swedish Stockholm International Peace Research Institute as saying that China has ballistic missiles with nuclear capability, which consist of four types with a range ranging from 1,800 kilometers to 13,000 kilometers. China defines the ranges of missiles as: short which is below 1,000 kilometers, mid-range which is between 1,000 and 3,000 kilometers, long-range which is between 3,000 and 8,000 kilometers and intercontinental range which is over 8,000 kilometers.

The three missiles the Chinese military are testing are Dongfeng-31, Dongfeng-21 and Julang-2 respectively. Dongfeng-21 missile is launched on a mobile erector launcher with a range above 1,800 kilometers. Dongfeng-31 missile is a highway-mobile and solid-propellant intercontinental ballistic missile with low circular error probability. Julang-2 missile is a sub-launched intercontinental ballistic missile with a range above 8,000 kilometers. The three kinds of missiles all have the ability to carry multiple warheads.

The Russian media also said Russian space forces' observation facilities prepare to record the missile launching process of the Chinese military. The Taiwan CTITV said while reporting the news on July 13, the missiles China's mainland is testing are able to reach the west cost of the United States, let alone Taiwan.

According to the Hong Kong Commercial Daily the Dongfeng-31 and Dongfeng-21 missile would be using the missile-launching site in Shanxi province while the Julang-2 sub-launched ballistic missile would be launched in the sea and the launching is possibly part of the Dongshan island military drills. The report also said Julang-2 has been test launched during the Dongshan military drills in 2001 and made an accurate hit on its target several thousand kilometers away.

By People's Daily Online



http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200407/22/eng20040722_150474.html