Xi Jinping visit highlights PLA Rocket Force’s key role in Taiwan strategy

Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to a PLA Rocket Force unit last Thursday highlights the key role the force might play in trying to deter the US from getting involved in a conflict in the Taiwan Strait, military analysts said.

Last week, Xi inspected a People’s Liberation Army brigade stationed in the southeastern province of Anhui, according to state news agency Xinhua.

It was the first reported visit to a Rocket Force unit since 2016 and footage of the visit showed a number of nuclear-capable missiles that commentators said could be used to target warships or military bases.

The visit came just three days after the Joint Sword-2024B military drill, which involved air, ground and naval forces as well as the Rocket Force.

The exercises came days after a speech by Taiwan’s leader William Lai Ching-te when he said Beijing had no authority to represent the island.

A day after that drill, Xi visited Dongshan county, an island in Fujian province that sits opposite Taiwan.