China’s armed forces view ballistic missiles primarily as rapid, precise strike tools for early‑phase shock and as anti‑access/area‑denial (A2/AD) assets. The missile force is intended to paralyze bases and ships, deterring foreign forces such as the United States from intervening near Taiwan or in the South China Sea, rather than being used in prolonged attritional wars.
Chinese doctrine emphasizes pre‑emptive, surprise strikes to seize battlefield initiative, after which air, naval and ground forces follow. While China now possesses the world’s largest stockpile of ballistic missiles, the inventory, though growing, is not sufficient for a long‑duration war of attrition.
The People’s Liberation Army is organized into four main services—ground, air, navy and missile forces—under the Central Military Commission and President Xi Jinping. Supporting these are four strategic support services: aerospace (space, satellites and anti‑satellite), cyber, information support (command and data coordination), and joint logistics.