Mainland China raises military threat against Taiwan

Mainland China raises military threat against Taiwan

Mainland China has begun deploying its latest Dong Feng 16 ballistic missiles against Taiwan, according to Taiwan’s National Security Bureau Director-General Tsai Der-sheng.

“The DF-16 is a new addition to the People’s Liberation Army arsenal, and poses a greater threat to Taiwan given its extended range and more powerful payload,” Tsai said March 16 during a legislative question-and-answer session.

The NSB chief confirmed that the DF-16 is not an upgrade from the existing DF-15.

According to Tsai, mainland China is also deploying its “carrier killer” DF-21D long-range anti-ship ballistic missile. “NSB intelligence confirms that the PLA has completed several rounds of successful tests and deployment is under way,” he said.

Ruling Kuomintang Legislator Lin Yu-fang said he was shocked by the latest developments as so far there had been no reports of testing for the new weapons.

Sources familiar with the matter said the PLA has around 1,400 missiles, most of which are DF-11s and DF-15s, deployed along mainland China’s southeastern coast targeting Taiwan.

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