Russian-made Gear Extends Beijing's Punch
TAIPEI —
China’s increasing military musculature continues to crush the margins
of how far the US military can conduct operations near the mainland,
experts say. Through the purchase of Russian-made equipment, China is
attempting to break beyond the current air defense range of 250
kilometers in what US experts refer to as China’s
anti-access/area-denial strategy.
China plans to procure two new
Russian weapon systems that will extend the range of its air defense
strike capability to 400 kilometers. This would place all of Taiwan
within the scope of China’s air defense network and endanger the
Japanese-controlled Senkaku Islands, which China also claims.


