The US is closely watching the anticipated test-firing of China’s new conventionally armed strategic missile, said to be capable of hitting US aircraft carriers and other warships at sea, an article in Thursday’s Washington Times said.
The report, quoting a defense intelligence official, said the exact timing of the test-fire and plans for deployment of the precision-guided CSS-5 medium-range missile is not known. But Washington is said to be extremely concerned about the move, as Chinese capability to hit US carriers would throw into doubt US plans to defend Taiwan in the event of a cross-strait conflict, which would involve rushing US aircraft carrier strike groups to the region, the report said.
Carrier-killing missiles would help Beijing block the rapid deployment of US forces to the region, the newspaper said.
Richard Fisher, a specialist on China’s military at the International Assessment and Strategy Center, was quoted as saying that China was likely developing three types of anti-ship ballistic missiles.
“It is bad enough that these missiles are being developed and can soon target US naval forces from China,” Fisher told the newspaper. “But we should also expect that China will eventually place these missiles on ships and submarines and sell them to its rogue allies.”
The report said Chinese Internet photos of the CSS-5, also known as the Dong Feng-21, showed what looks like a maneuvering warhead similar in design to warheads used on the US’ Pershing-2 missiles.
Fisher told the Washington Times that the new Chinese anti-ship missile could use a combination of active radar and optical or infrared guidance, but added that US Navy missile defense interceptors could also be upgraded to counter the new Chinese carrier killers.
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