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China's Rocket Force targets U.S. base in Okinawa, documentary reveals

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • A Chinese state television documentary revealed that the U.S. military's Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan, has become a target in Chinese Rocket Force wargames.
  • The documentary showed a satellite image closely resembling Kadena Air Base while Rocket Force officers discussed potential combat scenarios.
  • Analysts suggest the display, timed with the People's Liberation Army's anniversary, signals China's resolve and aims to deter U.S. intervention in potential conflicts like Taiwan.

A documentary aired on China Central Television (CCTV) has revealed that the U.S. military's Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan, is a simulated target for the Chinese Rocket Force. The program, titled "Securing Victory," was broadcast to commemorate the 99th anniversary of the People's Liberation Army.

Everything you practice today could be what happens tomorrow.

— Luo TingrongA Rocket Force officer, speaking in the CCTV documentary while a satellite image of an air base was displayed.

The documentary featured Rocket Force officer Luo Tingrong standing before a large screen displaying a satellite image of an air base. The image, though slightly blurred, strongly resembles Kadena Air Base, which is the largest U.S. Air Force base in East Asia and a crucial hub for U.S. military operations in the Western Pacific.

Kadena Air Base's strategic location in Okinawa places it within the "first island chain," a key area for containing China. It is also one of the closest major U.S. air bases to potential conflict zones such as the Taiwan Strait and the East China Sea, situated approximately 600 kilometers from Taiwan and less than 800 kilometers from China's coast. This proximity makes it vulnerable to various Chinese land-based missiles, including the Dongfeng-16, Dongfeng-21, and the hypersonic Dongfeng-17.

Kadena Air Base has been a clear target for the Chinese Rocket Force for decades.

— Tetsuo KotaniA professor at Meikai University, commenting on the significance of the documentary's broadcast.

Analysts interpret the broadcast as a demonstration of China's resolve rather than a display of new capabilities. Tetsuo Kotani, a professor at Meikai University, noted that Kadena has long been a target for the Rocket Force. Hirohito Ogi, a researcher at the International House of Japan, believes the satellite image sends a signal intended to deter U.S. intervention in conflicts like the one over Taiwan. He also suggested it highlights China's concerns about the strategic importance of Japan's southwestern islands in a potential Taiwan contingency and serves as a reminder for Japan to bolster its defenses.

The satellite image sends a signal aimed at deterring U.S. military intervention in sudden conflicts such as the Taiwan Strait.

— Hirohito OgiA researcher at the International House of Japan, interpreting the message conveyed by the documentary.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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