IN A rare move, China has reportedly taken the dramatic step of deploying one of the most advanced intercontinental ballistic missile systems to its border with Russia, in what is being viewed as a poignant message to US President Donald Trump.

The ballistic missile system in question is known as The Dongfeng (“East Wind”) 41 missile, or DF-41 and can carry long range nuclear warheads. China claims it has the longest range on any nuclear missile system in the world.

According to a report by China’s leading English-language newspaper The Global Times, the government is believed to have deployed the weapons to Heilongjiang, the country’s northernmost province which borders Russia.

The Dongfeng-41 is reputed to have a range of 12,000km to 15,000km, meaning it could theoretically strike anywhere in the US.

According to reports, the decision to deploy the nuclear warheads was made last month after the US, Japan and South Korea held a military exercise in response to the missile threat from North Korea.

Mystery had once surrounded the development of the DF-41 but the weapon has gone through extensive testing with at least five trials since its unveiling in 2014.



Pictures of the missiles have been circulated on Hong Kong and Taiwan media outlets sparking speculation that China intentionally revealed the deployment of the Dongfeng-41 to coincide with Mr Trump’s inauguration, the Times reported.

Mr Trump has been repeatedly antagonistic towards China during his ascendancy to the White House and upon taking office has stated his intention to usher in a new US missile defence system.

Mr Trump has also made strong comments about thwarting China’s ambitions in the South China Sea and said his administration will defend “international interests” regarding disputed island territories in the region.

The Global Times is published by the ruling Chinese Communist Party’s and is the government’s paramount English-language mouthpiece.

It is well known for its hawkish and insulting editorials. The paper has consistently backed aggressive military initiatives by China and recently referred to Australia as a paper cat with an inglorious history.

“The US has not paid enough respect to China’s military. A military clash with the US is the last thing China wants, but China’s nuclear arsenal must be able to deter the US,” the newspaper wrote.

“A China with or without the Dongfeng-41 is different to the outside world. That is the significance of the Dongfeng-41. We hope this strategic edge will be revealed officially soon.

“It will not bring the China Threat theory, but will only add authority to the People’s Liberation Army.”

Military experts have previously said any ICMB launch from China would likely be intercepted by US forces from the country’s naval base in Guam.

The news of the deployment comes as experts at the University of Sydney predict China will increase its military strength in the coming years and warned that Mr Trump’s blunt and hardline approach will make Beijing a “more truculent” partner.

Mr Trump getting tough “isn’t likely to entice Beijing to compromise,” said Ashley Townshend, a research fellow in the University of Sydney’s United States Studies Centre.

“Major power relations require some give and take, but it’s shaping up to be all take under Trump’s Asia team. This will be the most assertive US-China policy in living memory,” he added.

Earlier this week, Mr Trump’s controversial press secretary Sean Spicer said the US would challenge China’s claims of ownership over disputed islands — albeit in a characteristically blasé tone that has come to define Trump’s approach to certain foreign policy matters.

“If those islands are, in fact, in international waters and not part of China proper, yeah, we’ll make sure we defend international interests from being taken over by one country,” he said.

Mr Trump’s nominee for secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, last week hinted Washington should prevent China from building islands in disputed waters.

Mr Tillerson called China’s building of bases on the disputed islands illegal, raising the prospect of a confrontation between the world’s two greatest powers.

“We’re going to have to send China a clear signal that, first the island building stops, and second, your access to those islands is also not going to be allowed,” he said.