Nowhere is this more evident than in China's development of an anti-ship ballistic missile capability, specifically designed to target U.S. aircraft carrier strike groups that are the principle obstacle to China's expansion goals in the Western Pacific.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Countering Beijing's new weapon

While those missiles were influenced by the old U.S. Pershing 2 radar guided ballistic missile, China's system is far more capable and effectively keeps U.S. carrier battle groups out of their range until the U.S. Navy can put enough truly effective anti-missile defenses to sea.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: China's one world?

China also confirmed for the first time that it was developing an antiship ballistic missile that the Pentagon says may already be basically operational and eventually capable of hitting a moving aircraft carrier up to 1, 700 miles, or 2, 700 kilometers, from China's shores.

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