China will test the DF-17 medium-range hypersonic ballistic missile in a large-scale military exercise near Taiwan dubbed “Operation Reunification”. The ongoing military exercises are linked in response to US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan.
On Wednesday, Chinese state media outlets reported that the J-20 Mighty Dragon stealth fighter jet was also participating in the exercise. The Global Times wrote that the DF-17 missile was the first time it had been deployed in the exercise and would “fly” over Taiwan for the first time. People’s Liberation Army (PLA) troops are also expected to enter the area within 12 nautical miles and surround the area, military experts said.
China’s Armed Forces Eastern Theatre Command said on Wednesday that the troops involved in the exercise had conducted realistic drills in the north, southwest and southeast of Taiwan.The drills are expected to last until noon Sunday, Xinhua said. It added that live-fire drills were carried out in six major maritime areas and airspace around Taiwan.” DF-17 is an abbreviation of Dongfeng which means East Wind. This missile is claimed to be an aircraft carrier killer.
