China's development of a new long-range missile is a significant boost for the military, say analysts

China's development of a long-range missile capable of hitting anywhere in the United States suggests the PLA has made a significant leap in countering American military might through its strategy of "asymmetrical" warfare.

The approach, which has its roots in Sun Tzu's The Art of War, avoids trying to match strength with strength, and instead seeks to create threats that draw an opponent into making a costly response. Amid such calculations, China appears set to introduce the Dongfeng-41, which analysts say will have repercussions at the global and regional levels and alter the US and Japanese military build-up.

"The US will speed up the deployment of its ballistic missile defence systems in the Asia-Pacific region after confirming the PLA is continuing to develop the DF-41," said Macau-based military observer Antony Wong Dong.

"When Washington increases its ballistic missile defence abilities, Beijing will possibly react by strengthening the deployment of the DF-21D anti-ship ballistic missile, or even extend the range of the so-called carrier killer."

The development of the DF-41 was disclosed, possibly by accident, by a government environmental monitoring centre in Shaanxi in June. The information was picked up in a report by the state-run Global Times on the anniversary of the formation of the People's Liberation Army on August 1, although it was later removed.