The image is illustrative
On Sunday, China successfully completed tests of the missile defense system, which was an important event in terms of strengthening the country's national defense. According to the Chinese edition of the Global Times, the United States is currently attempting to blackmail China by deploying ballistic missiles in the Asia-Pacific region. China, in turn, is forced to strengthen its military potential.
The press release of the Ministry of National Defense of the People's Republic of China emphasizes that technical tests of the ground-based anti-missile interception system were carried out by the country within its borders. The report also notes that the tests are exclusively defensive in nature.
Despite its relatively small size, the medium-range missile tested by China has a full set of combat systems. It also has a network of auxiliary systems with an early warning and monitoring function. According to an expert interviewed by Global Times, the main feature of warning and surveillance systems is early warning of a missile attack, and long-range radar support and a highly efficient and operational control system also play a crucial role in the interception process.
Tests of the anti–missile system have been conducted by China before - in 2010, 2013, 2014, 2018 and 2021. All these tests were completed successfully. Interestingly, the Chinese missile defense system, according to the Chinese edition, will be even more effective than the American one: the US Center for Arms Control and Nonproliferation recognizes that the American ground-based missile defense system has a success rate of only 55 percent.
China's next step towards providing a higher missile defense capability will be to conduct tests to respond to more complex scenarios. Even Chinese analysts admit that a lower success rate of US missile defense does not necessarily mean that China has surpassed the American system, because tests conducted by the US may include other and more complex simulation parameters.
Currently, according to the Chinese edition, the United States is the main threat to China in terms of the use of ballistic missiles. The Pentagon is constantly upgrading and improving its intercontinental ballistic missiles as part of its ground-based strategic deterrence program. Colossal funds are spent on the implementation of these tasks.
After the United States withdrew from the Intermediate-Range and Shorter-Range Missiles Treaty in 2019, Washington began planning to deploy a missile network along the first chain of islands near China. The US can deploy its ballistic missiles in countries such as Japan, South Korea, Australia, as well as at its military base on the island of Guam. So far, Japan, South Korea and Australia have ruled out such a development, but we understand that if Washington puts pressure on its allies, they will be forced to go along with it.
Accordingly, China should have a developed missile defense system, as well as be able to destroy US missiles at their bases.