Amid US-China Tensions, Chinese Media Showcases Advanced Dongfeng Aircraft Carrier Killer Nuclear Missiles

KEY POINTS China showcased its advanced Dongfeng series missiles. China has set up new missile brigades based on its eastern and southern theater commands, focusing on Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea. The eight-part documentary series, which aired on CCTV "Over the past week," showcased anti-aircraft carrier DF-21D and DF-26B ballistic missiles as well as new-generation DF-41 intercontinental ballistic missiles, which are all part of the Dongfeng series, South China Morning Post reported. The anti-ship missiles would pose a great threat to the U.S. aircraft carrier strike groups in the region. China has set up new missile brigades based in its eastern and southern theater commands, focusing on security in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea, a Chinese military source said, as per the outlet. The CCTV documentary series aired in celebration of the 73rd founding anniversary of the PLA and showed at least a dozen DF-26B missiles with launchers, which is equal to an entire missile brigade, according to SCMP. "Showcasing Dongfeng series strategic weapons is a subtle warning to the United States, which is instigating other countries to put on pressure on Beijing over the Taiwan issue," Song Zhongping, a former PLA instructor, said, according to the outlet. Amid the rising tensions between Taiwan and China and following House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's Taipei visit in August, Beijing ordered several days of military drills, during which it fired several ballistic missiles from the Dongfeng series into the waters around Taiwan's northeast and southwest.