China’s military buildup is growing at a rapid pace with the formation of the Rocket Force--responsible for the country's missiles. (Photo : Getty Images)
The Rocket Force of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) featured once more its medium-range DF-16 missiles, which a range of 1,000 km, far enough to reach islands such as Okinawa in Japan, Taiwan, and the Philippines.
The Defense Ministry posted on its website the latest footage of the DF-16 missiles aboard their respective 10-wheeled mobile launchers during military exercises, which took place inside a deep forest during the Lunar New Year holiday.
First unveiled during a parade showcasing Chinese military strength in Beijing in 2015, the DF-16 missile has a longer reach than its predecessor, the DF-11, and can change its course to target slow-moving objects on its way and dodge any anti-missile defenses.
The DF-16 missile, notorious for its accuracy at just 5 meters within target, is among the PLA's wide arsenal of missiles, but it is particularly integral to China's desire to control the so-called "first-island chain"--a set of disputed isles over the South China Sea over which the country has asserted sovereignty.
Earlier, the Rocket Force showcased an array of six DF-15B missiles as part of the PLA's televised Lunar New Year's message shown by state television network CCTV--an undeniable showing of China's rising military might.
In a clip shown by CCTV 7, the state television network's channel for military news and features, PLA Rocket Force soldiers were shown making Lunar New Year greetings amid a backdrop of six DF-15B short-range ballistic missiles, dubbed as China's secret weapon.
Rocket Force brigade commander Li Zhenglian said that he is ready to deploy soldiers to launch the DF-15B missiles, reportedly the most numerous of the PLA's arsenal of, at any time upon the issuance of a proper order.
China's military buildup is growing at a rapid pace, with the formation of the Rocket Force from the PLA's old Second Artillery Corps seen by Chinese President Xi Jinping as a move that realizes the dream to build a strong Chinese military.
