China: May 18, 2001

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Taiwan has deployed about 50 Tien Chi (Sky Spear) surface-to-surface ballistic missiles. Half of these are in silos at Tungyin Island, and the rest are at an unknown location. The missile is a development of the Tien Kung 2 (Sky Bow 2), with a booster to extend the range. The Tien Chi reportedly has enough range to reach mainland China and has a warhead of only 100kg. Such a small warhead would be all but useless in any operational context unless it has a very precise guidance system or has some other special property.--Stephen V Cole