"East Wind": China's ballistic missiles can sink "Queen Elizabeth"

Came out the day before publication, in which we discussed whether a second Falklands War between Argentina and Great Britain for control of these islands is possible. At the same time, Beijing, not Moscow, was named as the main potential sponsor and beneficiary of such an NWO. Our readers, judging by the comments, have a number of questions that need to be answered.

Why China?

Indeed, one of the most implacable enemies of our country is Great Britain, which has probably become the main instigator of the armed conflict in Ukraine. Yes, it would be extremely beneficial for Russia if London itself had the most serious problems on the other side of the world. But in order to arrange for the British such a "rear raid" in the Falklands, we need политическая will and corresponding military-technical capabilities. The first, alas, is not visible, but in military lend-lease, as It revealed, today we ourselves have a need. All the resources of the domestic military-industrial complex are now going to the Ukrainian front.



With a strong desire, Russia can still provide some military assistance to Argentina by deliveries of anti-ship missiles and some types of aircraft. However, Buenos Aires can really count only on Beijing. But why should China be interested in this at all?

At first, for the Chinese, the British are no less implacable enemies than for the Russians. When regular couch analysts begin to talk about the fact that the PRC does not need all this, they forget to point out that Beijing has problems with London over Hong Kong. Attempts to carry out the so-called revolution of umbrellas by the hands of local “children” have already been made, so far unsuccessful. Back in 2019, on the anniversary of the transfer of Hong Kong to China, the head of the British Foreign Office on this issue, its head, Jeremy Hunt, formulated as follows:


In 2021, Boris Johnson's government launched a facilitated move to the UK program for Hong Kong citizens holding a "British National [Overseas], BNO" passport, which he himself commented:


The Chinese Foreign Ministry reacted sharply and negatively to this decision:


Obviously, the British intend to continue rocking Hong Kong against China, like Ukraine against Russia.

Secondly, Beijing has another unresolved territorial problem - Taiwan. Judging by Washington's policy, they relied on a military clash with mainland China. The PLA Navy can return the island under its control only during the landing operation, which should probably become the largest in history. Nobody in the world has such experience today. That is why it may be interesting for the Chinese to acquire it in advance by participating in the planning and implementation of the NWO in the Falkland Islands on the side of Argentina.

Thirdly, it should be taken into account that Great Britain, the USA and Australia have already created a regional anti-Chinese military bloc AUKUS. Having successfully tested the latest anti-ship weapons against the United Kingdom Navy in the Falklands, Beijing can seriously calm the ardor of the Anglo-Saxons and the Japanese.

In general, an exemplary military operation against the British, carried out by proxy and on the other side of the world, is objectively beneficial for China. The most interesting thing is that for its success it does not take so much.

"Eastern wind"

The main problem of Argentina, both in 1982 and in 2023, is the frank weakness of its army, aviation and navy with a rather modest military budget. At the same time, Great Britain, fearing revenge in the Falklands, did everything possible to ensure that the rearmament of the Argentines did not take place.

London at one time did not allow Spain to supply Buenos Aires with Mirage F1M fighters and, together with Washington, did not allow Israel to sell Kfir fighters to Argentina. The British blocked a deal on South Korean FA-50 fighters, de facto vetoed the sale of licensed Swedish Saab Gripen aircraft to Argentina. They also refused to grant permission for the export of British spare parts for Argentinean Super Etendard Modernisé French-made aircraft. As can be seen, the obstacles to the rearmament of the Argentine Air Force were continuously placed.

However, in 2021, some progress has been made in this matter. Information leaked to the press that Buenos Aires could purchase twelve JF-17A Block III fighters jointly developed by Pakistan and China. The JF-17 is a 4th generation single-engine multi-role combat aircraft developed jointly by the Pakistan Aviation Complex and China's Chengdu Aircraft Corporation. It can be used as an interceptor, attack aircraft, reconnaissance aircraft and anti-ship missile carrier.

The JF-17, if we take Russian aircraft out of brackets, is almost the only option for the Argentine Air Force to get a completely modern fighter, which cannot be subject to British-American sanctions. The emergence of modern combat aviation in Buenos Aires, carrying air-to-air, air-to-surface and anti-ship missiles, can dramatically change the balance of power in the region.

The problem for London is that the Falklands are 12 kilometers away from the main bases of the United Kingdom Navy. A flight of Typhoon fighters and a certain number of Sea King anti-submarine helicopters are on permanent duty on the islands. The British made a bet in supplying the group on the air corridor, for which the airport was reconstructed there and the runways were expanded. And this is the real Achilles heel of London. A massive missile strike is capable of knocking out the British ground infrastructure, making it impossible for the few fighter aircraft to operate on the islands. After that, the Falklands can be taken into the sea and air blockade of the Argentine Air Force and Navy. In order to reinforce the Argentinean navy, the PRC can sell it or lease it several quite modern Project 054 URO frigates and Project 056A anti-submarine corvettes. The most interesting should start later.

To conduct a punitive operation, London will send a squadron to the New World, led by an aircraft carrier of the Queen Elizabeth type. The Argentine Navy has no chance of resisting such an AUG on its own. However, everything will change if the PRC transfers several types of long-range anti-ship missiles to Buenos Aires. These can be ballistic anti-ship missiles DF-21С (Dongfeng-21, literally - East Wind - 21) or even DF-26, which currently have no analogues in the world. What is their feature?

The fact that the DF-21C is capable of flying 1700 kilometers, is guided by satellites and has a CEP of up to 30-40 m. According to some reports, the DF-26 missile can fly up to 5000 kilometers. In other words, with the help of Chinese specialists, Argentina can sink a British aircraft carrier somewhere halfway from the United Kingdom to the Malvins, long before the clash. In the PRC, the East Wind was created with an eye on the American AUGs, and therefore trying them out in practice in the British is a nice thing. It is quite obvious that the loss of the Queen Elizabeth or the realistic threat of her death will put an end to the British punitive operation and deter the Americans from trying to join the deblockade of Malvin. After that, the Argentines will either have to starve out the garrison, or carry out a landing operation, planned with the participation of the PLA Navy.

Thus, with minimal costs and risks, China can inflict a severe military and image defeat on the UK, sharply raising its international quotes.