As part of its efforts to promote its new YKJ-1000 hypersonic missile, the Chinese company Linkong Tiaxing Technology has released a video showing its potential use to strike targets in Japan, sparking controversy on social media and a renewed wave of tensions between Tokyo and Beijing. According to the published material, this weapon is characterized by its ability to reach targets located at distances of up to 1,300 kilometers, as well as achieve speeds between Mach 5 and Mach 7.
Expanding on the details, it should be noted that in the infographics accompanying the video, the company also indicated that this is a missile that uses commercial industrial components to significantly reduce manufacturing costs and timelines. In particular, it highlights that this approach lowers the estimated cost to a tiny fraction of what it would be following current models—equivalent to 1/15 of the price, according to the information provided. Meanwhile, in terms of production time, it refers to 15-day manufacturing cycles, marking an accelerated pace aimed at rapidly increasing China’s missile stockpiles.
The video also shows how these new YKJ-1000 missiles could be launched, featuring a launcher mounted on a container that can be transported by truck, giving it greater mobility for combat use—for example, as a coastal defense position against naval targets such as an aircraft carrier strike group. At the end of the video, the earlier-mentioned controversy arises, as a total of eight missiles are shown heading toward various targets in the island nation, followed by a flash that appears to represent an explosion and the company’s logo.
It is important to mention that Linkong Tiaxing Technology’s advertisement comes at a time of heightened tensions between China and Japan, following the rise to power of Japan’s new prime minister, Sanae Takaichi. In recent statements, she indicated that her country might intervene militarily in the event that the Asian Giant attempts to forcibly annex Taiwan, in addition to earlier expressions of reverence for the former imperial era and visits to memorials honoring deceased military personnel, some of whom have been accused of war crimes.
In this context, China has already stated that Japan “will pay a painful price” should it opt for such military action, and has criticized what it views as a warmongering stance by the Japanese prime minister. An illustrative example of the many statements on the matter came from Jiang Bin, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Defense, who said: “Not only has Japan failed to deeply reflect on its grave crimes of aggression and colonial rule in Taiwan, but instead, defying global opinion, it has fueled the delusion of a military intervention in the Taiwan Strait (…) If the Japanese dare to cross the line even by half a step and bring trouble upon themselves, they will inevitably pay a painful price.”
*Images credits: Linkong Tiaxing Technology
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