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China's Missile Programs
CHINESE VS. WESTERN MISSILE CLASSIFICATIONS
China defines specific ballistic missile types and ranges somewhat
differently than other countries. The different views are as follows:
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| Short-range (SRBM) | Under 1,000 km | Under 1,100 km | Under 800 km |
| Medium-range (MRBM) | 1,000 km - 3,000 km | 1,100 - 2,750 km | 800 - 2,400 km |
| Intermediate-range (IRBM) | 3,000 km - 4,800 km | 2,750 - 5,500 km | 2,400 - 5,500 km |
| Long-range (LRBM) | 3,000 km - 8,000 km | -- | -- |
| Intercontinental-range (ICBM) | Over 8,000 km | 5,500 - 14,800 km | Over 5,500 km |
China has traditionally defined "tactical" missiles as those with ranges under 1000 kilometers, whereas it considers "strategic" missiles to be those with ranges over 1000 kilometers.
However, in a 20 June 1991 press briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wu Jianmin stated:
"China's short-range missiles [are] those with a range of about 200 kilometers…On the range of missiles, there are different definitions in the international community. China hopes an international common understanding on this issue will be reached through consultations on an equal footing." [Xinhua, 20 June 1991 and 21 June 1991, and China Daily, 21 June 1991; in FBIS Special Memorandum, 18 December 1991.]
In addition, various treaties and regimes offer definitions of missile types and ranges. For example, the Intermediate Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty includes missiles with ranges between 500-5,000 km, and defines missile categories as follows:
- "shorter-range" missile: 500-1,000 km
- "intermediate-range" missile: 1,000-5,500 km
The Strategic Arms Reduction Treaties (START) contains the following definitions:
- intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM): over 5,500 km
- submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM): over 600 km
The Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) covers missiles with ranges up to 300 km.
[Sources: John W. Lewis and Hua Di, "China's Ballistic Missile Programs: Technologies, Strategies, Goals," International Security, Fall 1992, p. 6; W. Seth Carus, Ballistic Missiles in the Third World: Threat and Response, Center for Strategic and International Studies (New York: Praeger, 1990), pp. 68, 78; Military Balance 1986-87, p. 207.]
Chinese Ballistic Missiles
In its November 1997 report entitled, Proliferation: Threat and Response, the US Defense Department stated:
"China has an extensive and well-established ballistic missile industrial infrastructure and has developed and produced a variety of land- and sea-based ballistic missiles. Only the former Soviet Union and the United States have more extensive production capabilities for ballistic missiles. China's missile force is designed to serve as a strategic deterrent against Russia and the United States. China is the only country other than Russia whose land-based strategic missiles can strike the United States. China increasingly sees ballistic missiles as important weapons for a regional conflict or use as psychological weapons..."
"China has embarked on a ballistic missile modernization program. While adding more missiles and launchers to its inventory, China also is concentrating on replacing liquid-propellant missiles with mobile solid-propellant missiles, reflecting concerns for survivability, maintenance, and reliability." [Office of the Secretary of Defense, Proliferation: Threat and Response, November 1997 (online version).]
[BALLISTIC MISSILE DESIGNATIONS AND CHARACTERISTICS]
Chinese Cruise Missiles
In its November 1997 report entitled, Proliferation: Threat and Response, the US Defense Department stated:
"China has produced several types of land-, sea-, and air-launched cruise missiles. Most are short range and are deployed for anti-ship operations." [Office of the Secretary of Defense, Proliferation: Threat and Response, November 1997 (online version).]
[CRUISE MISSILE DESIGNATIONS AND CHARACTERISTICS]
This
material is produced independently for NTI by the James Martin
Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute of
International Studies and does not necessarily reflect the
opinions of and has not been independently verified by NTI or
its directors, officers, employees, agents. Copyright © 2007 by
MIIS.
