People's Liberation Army Rocket Force

People's Liberation Army Rocket Force
漫漫长冬 · Public domain · source
Unit name	People's Liberation Army Rocket Force
Native name	中国人民解放军火箭军
Caption	Emblem of the People's Liberation Army Rocket Force
Dates	1 July 1966 – present
Country	China
Branch	People's Liberation Army
Type	Strategic missile force
Role	Strategic deterrence, Nuclear deterrence, Conventional strike
Size	Classified
Command structure	Central Military Commission
Garrison	Beijing
Garrison label	Headquarters
Nickname	"Second Artillery Corps" (former)
Equipment	See Equipment
Current commander	Wang Houbin
Current commander label	Commander
Notable commanders	Jing Zhiyuan, Wei Fenghe

People's Liberation Army Rocket Force. It is the strategic and tactical missile force of the People's Republic of China, responsible for land-based nuclear and conventional missile operations. Established originally as the Second Artillery Corps, it was elevated to a full service branch in 2015, reflecting its central role in China's national defense strategy. The force operates under the direct command of the Central Military Commission and is a critical component of the People's Liberation Army.

History

The force's origins trace back to the establishment of the Second Artillery Corps on 1 July 1966, during the tenure of Premier Zhou Enlai, to centralize control over China's nascent strategic missile programs developed in the wake of the Cold War. Its creation was influenced by early cooperation with the Soviet Union and the subsequent success of China's first atomic bomb test in 1964 at Lop Nur. For decades, it operated as a quasi-independent branch under the People's Liberation Army Ground Force, focusing on a limited land-based nuclear deterrent primarily aimed at countering the United States and the Soviet Union. A pivotal moment in its history was its official reorganization and renaming to the People's Liberation Army Rocket Force on 31 December 2015, as part of broader military reforms initiated by President Xi Jinping, integrating it as the fourth full service branch alongside the Navy, Air Force, and Ground Force.

Organization

The Rocket Force is organized into missile bases, brigades, and technical support units, with its headquarters located in Beijing. It is directly subordinate to the Central Military Commission, with operational control likely coordinated through the Joint Staff Department of the Central Military Commission. The force is divided into several theater-level missile bases, such as those headquartered in Hefei, Kunming, and Xining, which oversee numerous launch brigades equipped with different missile systems. These brigades are specialized, with some dedicated to intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and others to medium-range or conventional precision strike missiles, supported by extensive reconnaissance, communications, engineering, and CBRN defense units.

Equipment

The Rocket Force possesses a diverse and modernizing arsenal of land-based missile systems. Its nuclear deterrent relies on solid-fueled ICBMs like the DF-31 and the newer DF-41, capable of reaching the continental United States, as well as older liquid-fueled missiles such as the DF-5. For regional strikes, it deploys a range of medium-range (e.g., DF-21), intermediate-range (e.g., DF-26), and short-range ballistic missiles (e.g., DF-11, DF-15). A key component is the DF-21D anti-ship ballistic missile, designed for anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) missions against vessels like those of the United States Navy. The force also fields land-attack cruise missiles such as the CJ-10, and is integrating hypersonic glide vehicles like the DF-17.

Role and capabilities

The primary role of the Rocket Force is to provide credible strategic deterrence, particularly Nuclear deterrence, against major powers, thereby safeguarding China's national sovereignty and security interests. It executes both nuclear and conventional precision strikes against strategic and tactical targets, which can include adversary military bases, aircraft carrier battle groups, and critical infrastructure. Its evolving capabilities are central to China's A2/AD strategy, aimed at deterring intervention in regional conflicts, such as in the Taiwan Strait or the South China Sea. The force maintains a state of high readiness, with an emphasis on survivability through mobility, hardening of silos, and possibly submarine-launched coordination with the People's Liberation Army Navy.

Commanders

Commanders of the force have been senior military officers with extensive experience in strategic missile operations. The first commander of the reorganized Rocket Force was Wei Fenghe, who later became Minister of National Defense. He was succeeded by Zhou Yaning. The current commander, appointed in 2023, is Wang Houbin. Previous commanders of the Second Artillery Corps included influential figures such as Jing Zhiyuan and Yang Guoliang, who oversaw significant technological and doctrinal developments during their tenures. These commanders typically also hold positions within the Central Military Commission.

International reactions

The growth and modernization of the Rocket Force have been closely monitored by foreign governments and analysts, leading to varied international reactions. The United States Department of Defense annually reports on its developments in documents like the "Military and Security Developments Involving the People's Republic of China." Countries like Japan, India, and members of the ASEAN have expressed concerns over the force's increasing range, accuracy, and the ambiguity surrounding its nuclear doctrine, particularly regarding the DF-26 and DF-21D missiles. This modernization is frequently cited as a key driver behind regional arms developments and strategic reassessments, including the expansion of missile defense systems by the United States and its allies, such as Japan and South Korea. Some analysts argue the force's capabilities are altering the strategic balance in the Indo-Pacific region.

Category:Military of China Category:Strategic missile forces