On September 25, 2024, China successfully test-launched an intercontinental missile, later confirmed to be the Dongfeng-31AG model.
This successful test attracted global attention and caused a stir.
Previously, Saudi Arabia had expressed interest in China’s Dongfeng-41 intercontinental missile multiple times.
As a wealthy oil-rich country, Saudi Arabia has the means to purchase such advanced weapon systems.
After the news spread, the United States also showed a certain level of caution and unease.
It is well known that Saudi Arabia, due to its rich oil resources, has become one of the wealthiest countries in the world, and the living standards of its people are consequently very high.
However, the Middle East region, where Saudi Arabia is located, has long been turbulent, posing significant security risks.
Especially in the 20th century, Iraq and Iran frequently triggered conflicts in the Middle East, and as a major country in the region, Saudi Arabia’s security has always been under threat.
In order to deal with the threats posed by the surrounding situation, the Saudi leadership decided to seek help from the international community and purchase missiles to safeguard national security.
Saudi Arabia initially aimed to procure missiles from the United States, but the U.S. did not agree.
After some setbacks, Saudi Arabia began to turn to China, hoping to acquire weapons from them.
Before this, the ties between China and Saudi Arabia were not close. The Saudi delegation came to China with a tentative attitude, hoping to successfully purchase missiles.
Surprisingly, after hearing Saudi Arabia’s needs, China expressed its willingness to sell missiles, which greatly surprised the Saudi representatives.
At that time, China was in the early stages of its reform and opening-up, and economic development urgently needed funds. Saudi Arabia’s demand provided China with a rare economic opportunity.
China began to introduce the performance and advantages of the Dongfeng-3 missile to Saudi Arabia.
After gaining a preliminary understanding of the Dongfeng-3 missile’s power, the Saudi representatives found that although this missile was not the world’s top-tier, it was not inferior to advanced weapons from other countries.
The two sides quickly entered contract negotiations.
However, they once hit a deadlock over the pricing of the missiles.
At that time, China had little experience in arms sales and did not know how to price the missiles. In the end, China offered a price of $10 million per missile.
However, the Saudi representatives directly offered a price of $100 million per missile, which surprised the Chinese representatives.
In Saudi Arabia’s view, this deal was also a “good bargain” for them, as the Saudi king had initially approved a missile procurement budget of nearly $8 billion, but the actual transaction amount was only $4 billion, far below expectations.
For China, this deal was undoubtedly a significant economic gain, considering that China’s foreign exchange reserves at the time were only $2 billion, and the revenue from the missile sales made a substantial contribution to China’s economy.
The first cooperation between the two parties went very smoothly, laying a good foundation for future arms deals between the two countries.
However, to prevent nuclear proliferation, China also set some restrictions during this transaction.
For example, although the Dongfeng-3 missile could carry nuclear warheads, China explicitly stated that it would not sell nuclear weapons to Saudi Arabia.
Additionally, if Saudi Arabia wanted to launch the missiles, it had to obtain prior approval from China.
Saudi Arabia expressed understanding of this, as they purchased the missiles purely for defense, not for attacking other countries.
After purchasing the Dongfeng-3 missiles, Saudi Arabia also bought Dongfeng-21 missiles from China.
With the introduction of China’s Dongfeng-41 intercontinental strategic nuclear missile, Saudi Arabia also became very interested in this missile.
The Dongfeng-41 missile, with its advanced technology and powerful strike capabilities, has become one of the world’s top weapons.
Its flight speed can reach Mach 25, and its maximum range exceeds 14,000 kilometers, meaning it can strike any target globally.
The independent multiple warhead design of the Dongfeng-41 missile makes it much harder to intercept and destroy during flight.
Moreover, the missile has the advantage of diversified launch platforms, including land, rail, and submarines, making it difficult for hostile countries to pinpoint its exact launch position, further enhancing its strategic deterrence.
Due to the Dongfeng-41’s formidable power, Saudi Arabia hopes to acquire this weapon to strengthen its defense capabilities and gain greater leverage in the complex Middle Eastern situation.
If Saudi Arabia could obtain the Dongfeng-41 intercontinental missile, it would not only deter other countries in the region but also greatly enhance Saudi Arabia’s influence on the international stage.
However, the United States is very concerned about Saudi Arabia’s ambitions.
The U.S. has long regarded the Middle East’s oil resources as a core strategic interest and will not sit idly by as Saudi Arabia acquires such a powerful weapons system.
Although the manufacturing cost of the Dongfeng-41 is about $2.5 billion, and it could be priced even higher in international trade, this is not an issue for the financially strong Saudi Arabia.
Although Saudi Arabia is willing to buy, whether China is willing to sell the Dongfeng-41 is another matter.
Today’s China no longer relies on arms trade to alleviate economic pressures, especially with strategic intercontinental missiles like the Dongfeng-41, which have extremely high strategic value and are not easily sold internationally.
The Dongfeng-41’s global strike capability makes it a key tool for China in maintaining national security, and if Saudi Arabia were to acquire this missile, it could even pose a potential threat to China itself.
Moreover, as China’s defense capabilities continue to upgrade, without fully mastering the ability to intercept the Dongfeng-41 missile, China may be reluctant to sell such a top-tier weapon to other countries.
With news of China’s missile test success spreading, the international community has speculated more about China and Saudi Arabia’s military cooperation.
In recent years, China and Saudi Arabia have deepened cooperation in aerospace, technology, and other fields, with Saudi funding and Chinese technology driving this collaboration.
This has led some to speculate that China might sell more advanced missiles to Saudi Arabia in the future.
But the U.S. remains highly vigilant, especially after the successful test launch of the Dongfeng-31AG missile. If Saudi Arabia were to acquire such missiles, it would pose a threat to many countries around the world.
The U.S. has long been concerned about Saudi Arabia obtaining strategic-level weapons systems, particularly those capable of threatening the U.S. mainland.
However, the likelihood of China selling the Dongfeng-41 missile to Saudi Arabia remains low, as it is a cutting-edge weapon that has just been developed, and its export involves many sensitive issues.
As a nuclear power, China has always adhered to its commitment not to be the first to use nuclear weapons.
In its military cooperation with Saudi Arabia, China’s primary goal is to help Saudi Arabia enhance its defense capabilities and ensure its national security.
However, when it comes to strategic-level arms deals, China remains cautious, avoiding missile exports that could negatively impact the global balance of power.
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