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US bill approving US$300 million for Taiwan’s military passed in House

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China’s military

Modernising China’s military

News

China

Military

When China’s military lagged behind US, it pursued an ‘assassin’s mace’ tactic. Smart weaponry and AI are changing that

Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

China’s focus on versatility, such as autonomous vehicles and AI-equipped weapons, is in contrast to weapons designed for asymmetrical warfare. The US also sees technology as a way to shape the parameters of a potential conflict.


China’s march to military modernisation still has barriers to overcome: from US tech curbs to Beijing’s own distrust of private sector

 Illustration: Henry Wong

China has struggled to build a suitable engine for its most advanced fighter, the J-20. Photo: Xinhua

Hypersonic DF-17 missiles pictured during a military parade in Beijing.  Photo: Weibo

The country has the second biggest military budget in the world after the US, but Washington is taking a range of measures to maintain its advantage.


China's military faces increasing global scrutiny amid rising tensions with the US and in various geopolitical hotspots. This series examines the convergence of technology, global rivalries and China's military.


China military reform

Series

Modernising China’s military

China's military faces increasing global scrutiny amid rising tensions with the US and in various geopolitical hotspots. This series examines the convergence of technology, global rivalries and China's military.

How smart weaponry and tech catch-up alter China’s ‘assassin’s mace’ tactic

China’s focus on versatility, such as autonomous vehicles and AI-equipped weapons, is in contrast to weapons designed for asymmetrical warfare. The US also sees technology as a way to shape the parameters of a potential conflict.

Expert warns of impact on China’s military from US curbs, possible ‘tech gap’

The country has the second biggest military budget in the world after the US, but Washington is taking a range of measures to maintain its advantage.