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Taiwan
ChinaMilitary

Chinese military rockets used in live-fire drills around Taiwan may change face of war, observers say

  • Eastern Theatre Command and PLA Daily both reference new firepower used in recent drills as hi-tech reforms continue for armed forces
  • Long-range rockets cost less than tactical missiles and may help distract enemy defences, Army Academy professor says

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Screen grab from a PLA Eastern Theatre Command video shows a missile being fired on August 4, during large-scale live exercises around Taiwan. Photo: AFP
Amber Wang
Recent Chinese military exercises around Taiwan highlighted the role of long-range rocket launchers that could change the future of war in the region, state media reports and observers said.
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The People’s Liberation Army held several days of large-scale live drills earlier this month, after US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taipei that was slammed by Beijing as a “provocation”.
The PLA’s Eastern Theatre Command, which is oriented towards Taiwan, Japan and the East China Sea, said the drills included the launch of a new long-range, box-type rocket with precise hits on targets east of the Taiwan Strait.

Military mouthpiece PLA Daily also said a new type of rocket was used in the Taiwan drills, the long-range fire force indicating the stronger combat capability and hi-tech advances achieved in the latest round of armed forces reform.

This comes as the Chinese military continues to upgrade its artillery, the front-page report on Saturday said, adding the long-range artillery that took part in the 2021 International Army Games also showed strong combat capability.

Neither the Eastern Theatre Command nor PLA Daily identified the missiles used in the Taiwan Strait drills. However, footage from state broadcaster CCTV showed PCL-191 rockets landing in waters near Pingtan, an island off Fujian province marked as the closest point to Taiwan.

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Mainland Chinese fighters and warships head to Taiwan Strait for live-fire drills

Mainland Chinese fighters and warships head to Taiwan Strait for live-fire drills

A commentary on the front page of PLA Daily the same day said the new variety and quality of military hardware would not only change the form and appearance of war but also the concept and cycle of preparing for armed combat.

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