In an extraordinary move, China recently revealed more information about secret anti-ballistic missile (ABM) tests it conducted back in 2010 and 2013 even as one of its foremost missile defense experts said war with the United States is not a question of if but when.

The revelation came on the heels of a joint decision by the United States and South Korea to station two batteries of the American Theater High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-ballistic missile defense system in South Korea. It also sought to douse fears China has no defense in place against United States ballistic missiles as tensions rise in Asia

Like Us on Facebook

Chinese media reported Beijing had published images of its medium-range anti-missile test and released the first video of a successful ground-based midcourse missile interception. It also focused the spotlight on little known missile and anti-missile defense expert, Senior Colonel Chen Deming.

In late July, China Central Television revealed for the first time video of China's successful ABM system tests in 2010 and 2013. In 2010, China tested an HQ-19 ABM interception system that's based on the Russian S-300 system.

The HQ-19 is China's version of THAAD. It's a vastly upgraded version of HQ-9 meant to destroy ballistic missiles and satellites in very Low Earth orbit.

The first ground-based midcourse missile interception test was held on January 11, 2010. An interceptor missile fired from the northwest desert successfully hit its target missile. Chinese media said this is the first time PLA disclosed details of its midcourse anti-missile test.

In 2013, China's tests focused on land-based, mid-course missile interception. There was also another test in 2011 about which no details were released.

The state propaganda machine also lavished attention on Chen, who it said has helped lead 28 research teams at a military base in northwestern China; supported 20 major scientific achievements and registered 13 patents.

"The problem is not whether the war will break out, but when," said Chen. "Our task is to develop the 'trump card' weapon for China before the war."

Chen expressed frustration at the pace of China's ABM development that began back in the 1960s.

"It cannot be delayed," Chen said of ABM development.

"We must follow the spirits of predecessors of the 'Two Bombs, One Satellite' to achieve a technological leap even at the risk of our lives. For the sake of maintaining peace, we must have anti-missile technology."

The hasty revelations by Beijing about its ABM system, however, raised doubts among some analysts.

"The public revelation about China's mid-course missile defense system does not reveal optimism about the country's perimeter situation," said Song Zhongping, a Beijing-based military expert, on his Weibo.

"However, we have made real progress in our missile defense system, which is now more advanced than what has been shown on TV."

Apart from the HQ-19, China has two other missiles that can be considered ABMs: the HQ-26, the Chinese equivalent of American RIM-161 Standard Missile 3 (SM-3) ship-based missile and the HQ-9 new generation medium- to long-range, active radar homing SAM similar to the American MIM-104 Patriot SAM system.

Tagschina, anti-ballistic missile, Theater High Altitude Area Defense, THAAD, United States, Senior Colonel Chen Deming, HQ-19