Why does China have to notify Russia in advance when launching the Dongfeng-41 missile?

Yes, it’s true that China has a strange rule when launching the Dongfeng-41, which requires notifying Russia in advance. This has puzzled many netizens. What does launching missiles have to do with Russia? Why does China need to inform others before using its own weapons? Doesn’t this amount to revealing one’s own hand to the opponent? As we all know, strategic nuclear weapons are the cornerstone of a country’s defense capabilities and its ultimate trump card, capable of turning the tide in life and death situations. It was once said that dignity lies only at the edge of a sword, and truth lies only within the range of a cannon. The Minuteman of the United States, the Topol of Russia, and the Dongfeng of China are considered the three great truths of the world today. These three nuclear missiles can be said to be the strongest presence globally, especially China’s Dongfeng-41 intercontinental strategic missile, which has garnered high attention from countries around the world since its debut. As a global T0-level intercontinental missile, its power is naturally formidable. The Dongfeng-41 uses three-stage solid fuel propulsion, with a maximum range of up to 14,000 kilometers, which can fully cover the entire continent of Europe and North America, truly achieving the mission of “Dongfeng Express“ ensuring delivery. In terms of speed, the Dongfeng-41 reaches an astonishing speed of 86 Mach. To put it in perspective, the circumference of the Earth is approximately 40,000 kilometers. 26 Mach is roughly equivalent to 32,000 kilometers per hour. This means that the Dongfeng-41 can orbit the Earth in about an hour, and it can strike any country around the world in as little as half an hour. However, the most important aspect of a strategic nuclear missile is its power. The Dongfeng-41 can be equipped with a single warhead or multiple warheads. If a single warhead is chosen, it would have a yield equivalent to 700,000 tons of TNT. Of course, increasing the yield of the warhead is easily achievable. It is worth noting that China’s first hydrogen bomb had a yield equivalent to 3 million tons of TNT. However, from a technological standpoint, it is unnecessary to significantly increase the yield of the warhead. The atomic bomb exploded in Hiroshima, for example, had a yield of only 15,000 tons, but its devastating effects were evident. Therefore, a yield of 700,000 tons is sufficient to destroy a city, and anything more would be wasteful.
Back to Top