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A US flag flies off the stern of a tour boat at the Port of Los Angele in California on July 31, 2025. (Getty Images)
While China’s ongoing island-building in the South China Sea has garnered headlines, Beijing has quietly continued a ballistic missile modernization program that increasingly threatens U.S. and allied naval vessels—and challenges existing U.S. and allied ballistic missile defense capabilities.
The United States is particularly concerned about the development of the DF-21 “carrier killer” that is designed to target U.S. aircraft carriers operating in the Western Pacific. Additionally, the commander of the U.S. Northern Command, Admiral Gortney, confirmed in April that China has deployed three ballistic missile submarines capable of striking the U.S. homeland.
On August 19th, Hudson Institute hosted five noted experts for a discussion of China's expanding missile arsenal and the role of that arsenal in Beijing's broader strategic objectives. Trey Obering, Dean Cheng, Mark Schneider, and Bryan Clark joined Hudson Adjunct Fellow Rebeccah Heinrichs to analyze China's military capabilities, national strategy, and possible U.S. responses.
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US Marines embark on the amphibious transport dock ship USS Arlington from a CH-53K helicopter on September 25, 2025. (US Navy)
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