Founding of the Second Artillery Corps and Missile Forces

In the 1950s, facing nuclear threats and blackmail from the superpowers, the Party Central Committee decided to develop missiles and nuclear weapons. In 1956 the Fifth Academy of the Ministry of National Defense was founded, with Qian Xuesen as president, and began developing missiles. In 1957 China formed its first missile training unit. In November 1960 the Dongfeng-1, China's first short-range surface-to-surface missile, copied from a foreign design, was launched successfully. In June 1964 the Dongfeng-2, a medium-short-range missile of China's own design, was launched successfully. On 1 July 1966, with the approval of the Party Central Committee and the Central Military Commission, the leading organ of China's strategic missile forces was formally established, and Zhou Enlai named it the "Second Artillery." It comprised strategic nuclear surface-to-surface missile units, conventional missile units and support units, and was the core of China's strategic deterrent. On 27 October 1966 China successfully tested a nuclear missile on its own territory, achieving the combination of the "two bombs." The Second Artillery continued to grow, fielding medium-range, long-range and intercontinental strategic missiles as well as conventional missiles. In May 1980 China successfully launched a long-range rocket into a designated area of the South Pacific, demonstrating the long-range strike capability of its strategic missiles. China has consistently pursued a defensive national defense policy and a nuclear policy of no first use. On 31 December 2015 the Second Artillery was renamed the People's Liberation Army Rocket Force, a service on a par with the army, navy and air force. At the 2019 National Day parade for the 70th anniversary, new equipment such as the Dongfeng-41 intercontinental strategic nuclear missile made a public appearance.