DF-17 hypersonic missiles raise direct threat to Taiwan

Taipei [ Taiwan ], October 3 (ANI): China's move to deploy Dongfeng-17 (DF-17) hypersonic ballistic missiles at a People's Liberation Army Rocket Force (PLARF) base close to Taiwan has raised alarm among defence analysts, who believe the weapon could endanger both US forces in the Western Pacific and Taiwan itself, as reported by Focus Taiwan .

According to Focus Taiwan , the deployment plan was highlighted by The New York Times in an article titled "The Missiles Threatening Taiwan ," which referenced the 2024 US Department of Defence report on China's military power.

That report noted Beijing now possesses around 3,500 missiles, a 50 per cent increase from four years earlier. The PLARF's Brigade 616 base in Jiangxi Province, about 579 kilometres from Taiwan , has been rapi