China’s anti-ship missile, troop cuts highlight shift to naval power

BEIJING: China’s unveiling of “carrier-killer” missiles and cuts in troop numbers on Thursday underlined a shift towards naval strength amid growing Pacific rivalry with the US, analysts said.

More than a dozen anti-ship ballistic missiles capable of traveling at 10 times the speed of sound were shown in Beijing at the massive military parade commemorating Japan’s WW II surrender, with state television calling them a “trump card” in potential conflicts and “one of China’s key weapons in asymmetric warfare.”