The rapid expansion and diversification of Beijing’s anti-ship missile inventory have significantly strengthened its area-denial posture along the first island chain, potentially complicating U.S. and allied naval operations during a Taiwan Strait contingency, according to defense analysts.
The YJ-20, among China’s first sea-launched hypersonic anti-ship missiles to reach mass production, exemplifies the People’s Liberation Army Navy’s progress in closing capability gaps with the United States. The weapon was prominently displayed alongside other advanced anti-ship systems during a large-scale military parade in Beijing last September, underscoring the service’s strategic emphasis on establishing a robust anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) envelope across its littoral waters and the broader first island chain.
Stretching from the Japanese archipelago through Taiwan to Borneo, the first island chain serves as a critical geostrategic boundary. Beijing regards Taiwan—which lies at the chain’s center—as a province requiring eventual reunification, by force if necessary. While most nations, including the United States and its allies, do not formally recognize Taiwan as a sovereign state, Washington maintains a policy of opposing any coercive change to the island’s status and remains committed to providing it with defensive arms.
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