Satellite images show major growth at bases like Brigade 611 and 616, now hosting advanced missiles such as the DF-17 hypersonic and DF-26 “Guam Express.”

The Pentagon estimates the PLA Rocket Force has grown by ~50% in four years, to ~3,500 missiles.

These systems aim to:

Knock out Taiwan’s defenses in the opening phase of a war.

Deter or strike U.S. forces in Guam, Japan, and at sea.
Send a political signal that resistance is futile.

Xi Jinping has personally inspected missile brigades, urging troops to “deepen your sense of peril and crisis.”

Despite corruption scandals and doubts about real-world accuracy, experts say the Rocket Force remains the “crown jewel” of China’s military, raising nuclear escalation risks if war breaks out.

Source: NYT