China’s Nuclear missile sparks global alarm, US urges Asian countries to…, missile can destroy… DF-5 can travel…

The missile’s warhead yield – up to 4 megatons – is roughly 200 times greater than the atomic bombs dropped by the US on Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end of World War II.

Beijing: In a major development, China has revealed significant details about one of its nuclear weapons for the first time. China’s state broadcaster CCTV has released key information about one of country’s main nuclear-capable missile systems, the DF-5. It is important to note that China’s nuclear program has traditionally been highly secretive, especially regarding specific missile capabilities and deployments.

However, many experts are wondering why details about the DF-5—an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM)—have been made public. The timing of this revelation is also notable, as it comes just days after the 2025 Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Asia’s largest defense and security forum. At the forum, the United States sent a clear message that amid China’s aggressive stance, the Indo-Pacific remains a top priority for the Trump administration.

America Issues Stern Warning To China

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has asked all its Asian allies to strengthen their defenses in response to China’s military buildup near Taiwan. While making his first speech at Shangri-La, Hegseth mentioned China more than 20 times and issued a direct warning to Beijing. Hegseth said, “Any attempt by Communist China to forcibly take over Taiwan will have devastating consequences for the Indo-Pacific and the world. There is no reason to hide this.”

China Was Taken by Surprise

Emphasizing on China’s growing influence in the West, Hegseth said, “We are also strengthening security in the Western Hemisphere and taking back the Panama Canal from malign Chinese influence. After all, it is a critical piece of geography. China did not build that canal. We did. And we will not allow China to weaponize or control it.”

The tone of Hegseth’s speech took many by surprise — certainly, China was stunned. He added, “If deterrence fails, and if called upon by my Commander-in-Chief, we are ready to do what the Department of Defense does best — fight and win — decisively.”

DF-5 Strength and its features:

Officials often resort to vague language and steer clear of specific details when discussing weapons. However, this time, China broke from that pattern, revealing that its two-stage missile—described as the country’s “first-generation strategic ICBM”—is capable of delivering a single nuclear warhead with an explosive yield ranging between 3 and 4 megatons of TNT.

It added that the missile had a maximum range of 12,000km (7,460 miles) – enough to strike the continental United States and western Europe – and was accurate to within 500 metres (1,600 feet), a critical factor according to modern military doctrines.

It added that the missile was “32.6 metres in length with a diameter of 3.35 metres and a launch weight of 183 tonnes”.

The missile’s warhead yield – up to 4 megatons – is roughly 200 times greater than the atomic bombs dropped by the US on Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end of World War II.