China Airs Nuclear Weapons Documentary for National Day... "Warning to the US"

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Kim Hyunjung] As China's state-run media aired a documentary on key strategic nuclear weapons to mark National Day, it is being interpreted as a 'warning to the United States.'

On the 5th, Hong Kong's South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that during the National Day period, China Central Television (CCTV) showcased the Dongfeng (東風·DF)-21D and DF-26B ballistic missiles, as well as the next-generation DF-41 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), through an eight-part documentary series. Citing defense experts, the report analyzed that the DF-41 ICBM, equipped with multiple nuclear warheads and a range exceeding 12,000 km, can strike all targets on the U.S. mainland, indicating that the purpose of airing this documentary is aimed at strategic deterrence.

The CCTV series, aired to commemorate the 73rd anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, featured 12 DF-26B missiles. Song Zhongping, a former instructor of the People's Liberation Army, explained, "Showcasing strategic weapons is a subtle warning to the United States, which is inciting other countries to pressure China over the Taiwan issue, as the intense Ukraine war also presents a dilemma for China." He added, "When facing U.S. warships, the conventionally armed DF-21D and DF-26 missiles, which can carry dual warheads, have precision strike capabilities strong enough to block entry into China's territorial waters."

Earlier, footage aired on another channel showed DF-26B missiles and launchers, with at least two brigades in combat readiness. On Chinese social media platforms, posts also appeared stating that one of the DF-26B brigades is stationed in Dalian City in the northeast, under the Northern Theater Command.

The first episode of the eight-part series also featured the DF-15 and DF-16 short-range ballistic missiles. This follows the unprecedented live-fire military drills conducted by the People's Liberation Army around Taiwan on August 4, after repeated warnings from the Chinese government and U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan, which escalated tensions.