American missiles deployed on China’s doorstep as WW3 fears soar ahead of Trump-Xi clash | World | News

American missiles have been deployed on China’s doorstep as Donald Trump prepares to visit China this week. Taiwan is set to position American-made Himars missile systems on two strategically located islands just miles from mainland China in a move aimed at creating a military “dead zone” against any invasion attempt.

The high-mobility artillery rocket systems will be deployed on the Penghu archipelago, situated off Taiwan’s main island, and Dongyin island – Taiwan’s northernmost territory – which lies fewer than 30 miles from the Chinese coast. A military source told Liberty Times the primary objective was to establish a “dead zone” that would deter China’s People’s Liberation Army from approaching Taiwan.

The source said placing the missile systems on Penghu and Dongyin rather than Taiwan’s main island would “exponentially increase” their effectiveness by enabling strikes on Chinese military installations along the coast. Under the strategy, Chinese forces could reportedly be forced to retreat at least 60 miles from the shoreline if Beijing launched an invasion of Taiwan.

The insider described the military doctrine as an “offence is the best defence” philosophy.

China claims sovereignty over Taiwan despite objections from Taipei and has repeatedly refused to rule out the use of force to seize the island.

Taiwan currently possesses more than 500 Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS), which have a strike range of up to 185 miles.

When launched from Dongyin, the guided missiles would be capable of targeting key PLA Rocket Force and naval installations operated by the Eastern Theatre Command across Zhejiang and Fujian provinces.

The deployment comes ahead of a scheduled summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump from May 13 to May 15 in China, where Taiwan’s defence capabilities are expected to feature heavily in discussions.

Initial reports of the planned missile deployment emerged in January during a three-day combat-readiness exercise conducted by Taiwan’s defence ministry on Penghu.

The drill included tactical missile launches from Himars units stationed on Taiwan’s main island.

Taiwan received its first Himars shipment from Washington in 2024, with total deliveries eventually expected to reach 111 systems once all consignments arrive.

Last week, Taiwan’s legislature approved a new special defence budget worth £18.8billion following months of delays.

The final figure was roughly one-third lower than President Lai Ching-te’s original £29.3billion proposal.

Part of the funding will go towards a new missile defence system known as “Taiwan Dome” or “T-Dome”, designed to use radar detection to track incoming projectiles before launching interceptor missiles.

Taiwan drew inspiration for the project from Ukrainian and Israeli defence tactics, which have proved effective against far larger military forces.

Announcing the programme last year, Lai warned: “China’s threats to Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific region are escalating,” citing military incursions, maritime grey zone operations and disinformation campaigns affecting Japan, the Philippines and the Taiwan Strait.

American officials have expressed frustration at the reduced defence package and have repeatedly urged Taiwan to restore the original spending plans.

One US official told Reuters: “Our position on Taiwan’s defence budget… is that it was disappointing in that there was some stuff left on the cutting room floor that we believe still needs to be funded.”

Beijing has long opposed American weapons sales to Taiwan and has repeatedly pressured Washington to halt military support for the island.