China Flaunts Advanced DF-17 Missile on State TV: A Bold Show of Military Power

NEW TAIPEI CITY, Taiwan — For over a decade, the Dong Feng-17, a ballistic missile developed by China, has been part of the People’s Liberation Army’s expanding arsenal of advanced military equipment.

It was only in June that this missile was prominently featured in China’s state-controlled media for the first time, highlighted as a key component of the nation’s military capabilities with English subtitles praising its effectiveness in combat.

Observers indicate that this public revelation is a response to military maneuvers in the Asia-Pacific by other nations, signaling to the U.S. military that the DF-17s have significant capabilities to effectively target in a potential conflict with China.

“The display of these missiles could be seen as a form of political messaging or soft deterrence, as the DF-17 poses a substantial challenge to defend against due to its capabilities, especially against large naval vessels,” explained Alexander Huang, who leads the Council of Strategic and Wargaming Studies in Taipei. “They pose a significant threat to aircraft carriers and other large ships.”

These medium-range missiles are equipped with a hypersonic glide vehicle, enabling them to travel at lower altitudes and maneuver unpredictably.

According to a report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, the DF-17s have been in existence for approximately 12 years and were included in the arsenal of the People’s Liberation Army around 2019.

The timing of the DF-17’s media exposure coincides with the U.S.-led 2026 Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) naval exercises near Hawaii and the bilateral military drills between the U.S. and Japan in late June.

“These other exercises were notably intensive and seemed specifically designed to counter potential Chinese maneuvers,” Huang noted.

By publicizing the DF-17s following the RIMPAC exercises, China aims to demonstrate that these missiles can bypass interception while simultaneously executing saturation strikes, according to Chen Yi-fan, an assistant professor at Taiwan’s Tamkang University.

“This strategic communication is meant to highlight the PLA’s increasing confidence in its capability to overwhelm regional missile defense systems and complicate the operational plans of its adversaries,” Chen elaborated.

As demonstrated in a drill featured in an English-language YouTube video by CGTN, the state media outlet, these missiles can execute extremely precise strikes and penetrate sophisticated defense systems.

CGTN also mentioned that these missiles could be launched from various sites and under any weather conditions.

“The coordinated launches significantly enhance strike efficiency and safety on the battlefield, showcasing China’s advancements in military technology,” CGTN reported.

The U.S. think tank describes the DF-17 missiles as being 11 meters long with a range between 1,800 to 2,500 kilometers, capable of carrying conventional or nuclear warheads, with China possessing around 1,300 missiles and 300 launchers.

“As a premier strategic asset of the PLA, the DF-17 is likely reserved for critical scenarios, such as responding to foreign military intervention that supports Taiwanese independence,” Chen stated.

U.S. military bases in locations like Hawaii, Guam, and Japan are vigilant regarding the increase in naval exercises by the People’s Liberation Army around Taiwan and ongoing disputes with the Philippines in the South China Sea.

China asserts its sovereignty over Taiwan, which functions as a de facto ally of the U.S., and disputes territorial claims with the Philippines, a U.S. treaty ally, over small islands in their shared maritime region.

The hypersonic glide vehicle integrated into the DF-17 gives it a tactical advantage in combat scenarios, according to M. Taylor Fravel, Director of the Security Studies Program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. “This maneuverability makes it significantly more challenging to intercept compared to traditional ballistic missiles,” Fravel explained.

Older DF-series missiles followed more predictable ballistic trajectories, unlike the DF-17, added Huang.

U.S. forces may need to improve their long-range radar capabilities to detect launches of DF-17s and take preemptive actions in any potential conflict, according to analysts.

The U.S. is also developing systems similar to the DF-17, including the Army’s Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon and technologies aimed at countering hypersonic glide vehicles, Fravel noted.

A long-range hypersonic system is being designed to strike highly defended targets from a great distance.

“Washington needs to hasten the development and deployment of its hypersonic weapons to establish a credible deterrent,” Chen emphasized.