China’s deploys submarine missiles that can strike US

CHINA has deployed a new generation of long-range ballistic missiles on nuclear submarines capable of hitting the US from the safety of its own waters.

All six of China’s nuclear-powered submarines have been equipped with new JL-3 missiles, which reportedly have a range of up to 7,500 miles, dramatically increasing China’s ability to strike at US territory.

The previous version , the JL-2, had a range of up to 4,500 miles, which limited their range from Chinese waters to parts of Alaska, meaning the submarines carrying them would have had to reach the ocean near Hawaii to threaten the mainland United States.

The deployment of the new generation of missiles was revealed last Friday by Admiral Sam Paparo, who commands the US Pacific Fleet.

He said: “They were built to threaten the United States.”

Adm Paparo declined to say if any of the submarines had conducted socalled deterrence patrols off Hawaii.

Relations between Washington and Beijing have been at their lowest ebb for years, especially after outgoing US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan earlier this year.

Details of what appears to represent a significant escalation of tension emerged within days of President Joe Biden meeting his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, at the G20 summit in Bali.

The Pentagon has been bracing itself for the deployment of the new missiles for at least a year.