General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsChina Has Deployed Near Taiwan A Powerful Missile Designed To Take Out US Aircraft Carriers
China has deployed near Taiwan a powerful missile designed to take out US aircraft carriers as Beijing strengthens its ability to prevent US forces from aiding Taiwan during potential conflict.
The deployment of the DF-21D anti-ship ballistic missile comes as Chinas army develops greater long-range and offensive capabilities. Those advances pose a challenge to US forces as Washington looks to build up its military presence in east Asia to balance out Chinas rising might.
The DF-21D missile is a particular worry for Taiwan as it relies on US forces to back it up against threats from the mainland, which has not renounced the use of force to take the island it regards as part of its territory.
The missile limits the USs ability to send aircraft carriers into the strait unchallenged to support Taipei, as it did in 1996 when China conducted missile tests in the strait during the run-up to the islands first democratic election. Taiwan itself has no aircraft carriers.
News of the missiles deployment came in written testimony to the head of intelligence for the Pentagon, Lieutenant General Michael Flynn, delivered to a Senate committee on Thursday.
MORE...
http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/3d026ec6-a8d1-11e2-a096-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2R21bQcp7
FarCenter
(19,429 posts)They can afford to play the long game and continue a slowly evolving relationship over decades.
They wouldn't gain anything by attacking Taiwan.
We aren't stupid enough to put carriers into the Taiwan Straits -- John Foster Dulles is dead.
onethatcares
(16,133 posts)the United States buys an awful lot of shit from China, hell we've even sent our factories there along with all kinds of technology.
It would seem like a stupid thing for China to shoot at our carriers over Taiwan, more like a reason to keep the MIC busting ass day in/day out.
HooptieWagon
(17,064 posts)Lurker Deluxe
(1,031 posts)Not sure how you would test a missle designed to sink something that has never been sunk. The current class of supercarrier out there has never been attacked directly. The last class had one sunk ... we sunk it to see what it would take to do it.
Kinda like sucker punching Mike Tyson ... ya might get em, but then again he prolly isn't going down with that first hit. Better hit again really really fast cause once it's his turn it's gonna be painful.