The DF21-D and DF-26D missiles are two deadly weapons in possession of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army. War strategy expert Harry Kazianis told Express.co.uk the missiles would “do a lot of damage” to the US Navy. He described the deployment as “crazy” and warned that China has such large numbers of weapons that it is “very unlikely that the US Navy could shoot them all”.
This is because tensions between the US and China have reached new heights in recent weeks after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan.
In retaliation for the visit, the Chinese military staged an unprecedented display of force, including four days of military exercises around Taiwan.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry said Ms Pelosi’s visit “has had a serious impact on the political foundations of China-US relations and constitutes a serious breach of China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity”.
Speaking about China’s response to Ms Pelosi’s visit, Mr Kazianis said: “I think we will definitely see the continuation of many more missile tests.
“I think you’re also going to see the Chinese testing two specific missiles that are very important.
“One is called the DF21-D and the other is called the DF-26D.
“I call these out because they are what many experts call ‘carrier killer missiles’ or the ‘naval killer missiles’.
“Those are the missiles built specifically by the Chinese, so if this scenario ever happened – the scenario over Taiwan – they could do a lot of damage to the US Navy if they got within 500 miles of the Chinese coast.
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“The US Navy would run into the Pacific and use whatever resources they have in the area to try and stop the Chinese.
“That’s when the Chinese could potentially launch swarm attacks — hundreds of these types of missiles that basically overwhelm US missile defenses.
“Even if we deploy every missile defense we have in Asia, we wouldn’t be able to stop the thousands of missiles the Chinese have built.
“So that’s how dangerous this is.”
Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said the People’s Liberation Army has fired missiles around Taiwan since last Thursday and sent more than 200 military aircraft and more than 50 warships to the island.
Meanwhile, dozens of Chinese military aircraft have crossed the median line in the Taiwan Strait, the unofficial maritime border between Taiwan and China.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said on Monday the exercises were intended to “send a warning” to those pursuing Taiwan’s independence.
In a statement after landing in Taiwan, Ms Pelosi said: “Our congressional delegation’s visit to Taiwan pays tribute to America’s unwavering commitment to support Taiwan’s vibrant democracy.
“America’s solidarity with Taiwan’s 23 million people is more important than ever today as the world faces a choice between autocracy and democracy.”
China had previously warned of “consequences” if Ms Pelosi went ahead with the visit.