ThePeople's Republic of Chinacarried out a land-based high-altitudeanti-ballistic missiletest on 11 January 2010.[1]This reportedly made China the second country in the world after theUnited States of Americato successfully destroy an incoming missile beyond the Earth's atmosphere.[2]
Possible purpose
editThe test came just after an American official announced inTaipeithatThe Pentagonhad just approved the sale of theMIM-104 Patriotmissile system toTaiwan.In fact, the sale was part of a deal passed by theUnited States Congressmore than a year before.[3]Beijing considers Taiwan to be part of its territory, and itsMinistry of Foreign AffairsandMinistry of Defensehad voiced its strong opposition to these sales. Observers and analysts think the test was a response to the deal, and showed Beijing's stance on the issue.[3]
However, some others believe this test was routine, because[1]an article appeared in thePLA Dailyas early as on November 12, 2009, claiming that a new type of Chinese missile provided anti-ballistic missile capability and would go to further tests. Recently, the statements from Zhu Zhuhua ( chu chúc hoa ), a director of thePeople's Liberation Army Air ForceEquipment Research Institute ( giải phóng quân không quân trang bị viện nghiên cứu ) supported the claim.[1]Based on this analysis, the test was coincidental to Taiwan's weapon deal.
Basic information
editThe flight ofIntercontinental ballistic missileshas three stages in air, the boost phase (the 1st phase), the mid-course phase (the 2nd phase), and the finalreentryphase (also known as terminal phase).[1]The Chinese test targeted on the mid-course phase when the target was out of theatmosphere.[4]The test was successful.[1][4]The full name of the test is called theTest of the Land-based Mid-course Phase Anti-ballistic Missile Interception Technology(simplified Chinese:Lục cơ trung đoạn phản đạo chặn lại kỹ thuật thí nghiệm ). However, the exact launch sites and types of these two missiles are not clarified in Chinese news, although it was rumored that the interceptor was designated theDN-1or "Dong Neng 1".
According to The Pentagon, Beijing did not inform the test in advance.[3]And the statement "We detectedtwo geographically separated missile launch eventswithan exo-atmospheric collisionalso being observed by space-based sensors",by The PentagonspokeswomanMajorMaureen Schumann, also proves the profile and results of the test.[3]
See also
editSome related concepts:
- Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle(EKV)
- Anti-ballistic missile
- Anti-satellite weapon(ASAT)
- National Missile Defense(NMD)
Organizations:
- Ballistic Missile Defense Organization,an agency of theUnited StatesDepartment of Defense
- Ministry of National Defense of the People's Republic of China
Some recent tests:
References
edit- ^abcdeQuốc gia của ta thí nghiệm lục cơ phản đạo trước đây chỉ nước Mỹ tiến hành quá tương quan thí nghiệm(in Chinese). SINA News. 2010-01-12.Archivedfrom the original on 14 January 2010.Retrieved11 January2010.
- ^"China Said to Close Gap With U.S. Missile Defense in Monday Test"(php).NTI. Jan 14, 2010.Archivedfrom the original on 19 January 2010.RetrievedJan 14,2010.
- ^abcd"China did not notify the US before anti-missile test: Pentagon".AFP. Jan 13, 2010. Archived fromthe originalon 15 January 2010.RetrievedJan 14,2010.
- ^ab"Trung Quốc thí nghiệm chặn lại đạn đạo nước Mỹ đòi lấy số liệu (China conducted anti-missile test, US asks for data)"(in Chinese).BBC.2010-01-12.Archivedfrom the original on 15 January 2010.Retrieved12 January2010.