China Developing Anti-Ship Missile To Attack U.S. Aircraft Carriers: Paper

China is developing an anti-ship ballistic missile to attack U.S. aircraft carriers during any Chinese invasion of Taiwan, according to the Sankei Shimbun, a newspaper in Japan.

While China has vowed in a law to invade Taiwan unless it capitulates and submits to rule by Beijing, soon, the United States is committed to defend Taiwan in that case, with American policy urging China to attempt a peaceful, voluntary takeover of the island nation instead.

The intermediate range missiles would be able to travel 1,500 to 2,500 kilometers (932 to 1,553 miles), according to the Japanese paper. The infrared-guided missiles would be able to hit a U.S. aircraft carrier, the report continued.

China also plans to buy a supersonic long-range (4,000 kilometers, or 2,485 miles) bomber from Russia carrying several anti-ship missiles with a 500-kilometer (310.7 miles) range, that could be deployed if the United States attempts to defend Taiwan, according to the newspaper.

The goal of Chinese military leaders is to prevent U.S. forces from venturing anywhere near Taiwan or the straits between the island and mainland China through over-the-horizon attacks, according to the paper.

While the U.S. Navy has the Aegis anti-missile system on American ships, that could be overwhelmed if China simultaneously launches a wave of both the intermediate-range and long-range missiles, the paper asserted.