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Recent satellite images show that China is setting up launch units for its newest road-mobile Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) in central China. Several launchers of the new DF-31/31A appeared at two sites in the eastern part of the Qinghai province in June 2011. This is part of China’s slow modernization of its small (compared with Russia and the United States) nuclear arsenal. An image taken on June 27, 2011 , shows two DF-31/31A launchers on the launch pads of a small launch unit near Haiyan (36°49’37.12″N, 101° 6’22.97″E). One is positioned in a circular pad with support vehicles surrounding it....

Chinese officials were quick to respond to the recent Indian success in getting their Agni III ballistic missile into active service. This came about after the fourth test of the fifty ton, two stage, solid fuel missile. Agni III has a range of 3,500 kilometers and was built to reach targets in China. Chinese officials pointed out that India was, with the Agni III, still at least a decade behind China in the long range ballistic missiles department. The Chinese introduced the DF-21 in 1999. This missile has a range of over 1,800 kilometers and can haul a 300 kiloton...

Report: China has deployed missiles giving it second-strike capability against U.S. Insight Magazine, August 3, 2006The U.S. intelligence community has determined that Beijing has developed and deployed a series of missiles that would give China second-strike nuclear capability in any confrontation with the United States. The determination of a sea-based deterrent is said to have significantly increased Beijing's threat to the United States. "It is clear to me that China is now embarking on a significant investment in a second-strike capability to ensure the survival and, thus, viability of its nuclear forces," said Richard Fisher, a researcher at the International...

New PLA missile `a warning' for the US, experts say DPA , TAIPEI Sunday, Jun 19, 2005,Page 3 Advertising China's newly-developed submarine-launched Ju Lang-2 missile serves as a warning to the US not to underestimate Beijing's military power, Taiwanese military experts said yesterday. "The Ju Lang-2 poses a great threat to the US because it has better precision and guidance and is harder to detect," said Weng Ming-hsien, a professor from the Institute of Strategic Studies at the Tamkang University. "China wants to tell the US that it has never stopped developing nuclear arms. China also wants to warn Russia...

/begin my translationChina Testfires a New SLBM, landing on a desert a few thousand km away Yomiuri Shimbun 06/17/05China testfired on June 16th a new submarine launched ballistic missile[SLBM], according to a (Japanese) government source.Supposedly, it is Julang-2[JL-2], which is the modified version of Dongfeng-31[DF-31] intercontinental ballistic missile[ICBM] (estimated range:8,000km), which can be launched from a submarine. It was fired from a nuclear submarine under the sea next to Qingdao, and landed on a desert area a few thousand kilometers away.There was also a confirmed launch of Chinese SLBM in 2001.China now possesses 30 ICBM's, and is conducting research for (missiles)...

China is developing larger surface ships, ballistic missile submarines (SSBN), nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSN) and conventional submarines, so it will be able to blockade Taiwan and deter any involvement of the U.S. Pacific Fleet in the Taiwan Strait by the end of this decade. For this purpose, the development of SSBN's has been given priority, to build up a nuclear deterrence. In 2001, after seven years of refit and modernization work, China's single SSBN of the Xia Class, Type 092G (G: Gai Lian, meaning modification) was re-commissioned. It is believed the vessel received the JL-1A ballistic missile, the effective...