China's Rocket Force Flexes ‘Fearless' Missile Power
China flexed its military strength in celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Rocket Force, saying the service possesses “fearless” missile power against any adversary.
The People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force was established on December 31, 2015, as part of President Xi Jinping’s military reform aimed at building “world-class” armed forces to help China displace the United States as the world’s most powerful country.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Why It Matters
China is undergoing comprehensive military modernization, resulting in the world’s largest navy by hull count and a large nuclear and conventional missile arsenal. In its latest assessment report on Chinese military power, the Pentagon said China’s military buildup was historic and had made the U.S. homeland “increasingly vulnerable.”
The Rocket Force is a key component of China’s military strategy to counter potential U.S. intervention in the event of a conflict in the western Pacific, including over self-ruled Taiwan-which Beijing has threatened to seize by force and recently subjected to a blockade-style drill-to limit the ability of U.S. forces to maneuver in the region.
What To Know
In footage released on the social media platform X on Friday, the Chinese military said the Rocket Force had become a powerful deterrent force since its establishment, calling it “fearless” against opponents and capable of covering the world with unlimited range.
One of the hashtags in the post, #Dongfeng5C, refers to the DF-5C intercontinental ballistic missile unveiled in a September military parade. The nuclear-armed missile is said to have global-reaching strike capabilities, with a range of more than 12,427 miles.
The Rocket Force is the core of China’s strategic deterrence and a “strategic buttress” to the country’s position as a major power, helping uphold national security, the footage said, using the voice of a former spokesperson for the Chinese Defense Ministry.
Regarding the Rocket Force’s capabilities, the footage said its nuclear and conventional weapons could deter wars in all battle spaces and were capable of conducting intermediate- and long-range precision strikes in support of nuclear deterrence and counterattacks.
The footage also reviewed major events in the history of the Rocket Force-including its participation in a war game in August 2022 that involved firing missiles into waters around Taiwan, in response to then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taipei.
Another event mentioned was the test launch of an unarmed intercontinental ballistic missile in September 2024, in which a Rocket Force missile-carrying a dummy warhead-flew toward international waters within a South Pacific nuclear-free zone.
What People Are Saying
A video released by the Chinese military in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Rocket Force said: “Suppose that war is about to break out today; we are fully prepared to fight at any time, launch timely and achieve assured destruction.”
It added: “No matter when, no matter how powerful you are, I will do whatever it takes to take you down.”
The Pentagon’s 2025 Chinese military power report said: “China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has for decades marshaled resources, technology, and political will to achieve its vision of a world-class military. … China maintains a large and growing arsenal of nuclear, maritime, conventional long-range strike, cyber, and space capabilities able to directly threaten Americans’ security.”
What Happens Next
It remains to be seen whether China will conduct another unarmed test launch of a nuclear-capable missile in the new year. The Pentagon has assessed that “future launches may occur with some regularity” as part of the Chinese military’s routine training plan.
Newsweek
This story was originally published January 2, 2026 at 6:28 AM.