https://www.scmp.com/rss/265639/feed Latest news, features and opinion on the military in China, including the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), the development of warships, aircraft carriers and fighter jets, spending on the armed forces and reforms and modernisation. US-China and mainland-Taiwan military tensions and the deployment of China’s armed forces overseas are also covered. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Wenran Jiang Wenran Jiang The dust and debris of the US-Israeli war on Iran have yet to settle, but its strategic shock waves have reached East Asia. From Tokyo to Taipei, a reassessment is under way. The conflict, intended to project American resolve, has been a brutal stress test for the US-led order – with catastrophic results for Washington’s credibility. Far from cementing its primacy, America’s misadventure has revealed a superpower that is overstretched, vulnerable and seen as an unreliable partner. This erosion... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3348665/east-asias-crisis-confidence-us-militarising-chinas-backyard?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3348665/east-asias-crisis-confidence-us-militarising-chinas-backyard?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 12:30:09 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen The People’s Liberation Army has upgraded its ageing tanks for a potential Taiwan operation, equipping them with a system to counter drone attacks and anti-tank missiles, according to state media. Type 96A main battle tanks with the GL-6 active protection system, or APS, installed were shown in video footage released by official newspaper China Youth Daily on Monday. The tanks belong to the 71st Group Army unit under the PLA’s Eastern Theatre Command, which is mainly responsible for possible... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3348816/pla-upgrades-ageing-tanks-protection-system-potential-taiwan-operation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3348816/pla-upgrades-ageing-tanks-protection-system-potential-taiwan-operation?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 11:00:08 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen As Tokyo was completing the deployment on Tuesday of its two Type 25 missiles targeting China, a Chinese naval fleet entered the Sea of Japan, while bilateral tensions continued to escalate. China has strongly protested the Japan Ground Self-Defence Force’s addition of the newly designated Type 25 long-range surface-to-ship guided (SSM) missile and hypervelocity gliding projectiles (HGP). The deployments were an example of “neo-militarism in Japan, which has become more than just a perilous... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3348676/chinese-navy-arrives-sea-japan-just-tokyo-deploys-long-range-missiles?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3348676/chinese-navy-arrives-sea-japan-just-tokyo-deploys-long-range-missiles?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Apr 2026 10:01:24 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall Japan is reportedly planning to deploy advanced anti-ship missiles on Minamitorishima, the country’s easternmost island, as it moves to enhance its defence posture against what it perceives as rising Chinese military activity in the region. The defence ministry is also seeking to deploy a launcher, spotting drones and radar systems on the island as early as June, according to a report by national broadcaster NHK on Tuesday. These would be used to identify and target vessels, complementing the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3347873/what-japans-missile-plan-remote-pacific-island-reveals-about-its-defence-goals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3347873/what-japans-missile-plan-remote-pacific-island-reveals-about-its-defence-goals?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 00:00:27 +0000 Holly Chik Holly Chik A former top-ranking scientist in the Chinese military and one-time nuclear test site commander, Liu Guozhi, has been removed from the website of the country’s top national research institute. In 2016, Liu was named head of the science and technology commission of the Central Military Commission – China’s top military decision-making and command body – a position he is believed to have held until the early 2020s. Liu, 65, was elected to the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in 2009. Some Chinese... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3347200/liu-guozhi-former-top-pla-scientist-and-nuclear-test-commander-delisted-cas-website?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3347200/liu-guozhi-former-top-pla-scientist-and-nuclear-test-commander-delisted-cas-website?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Mar 2026 12:58:48 +0000 Igor Patrick Igor Patrick The US military is monitoring 23 Chinese port projects and 12 space-enabling facilities across Latin America and considers every one of them “a potential dual-use asset” that could support Chinese military operations, the top US commander for South America told Congress on Tuesday. General Francis Donovan, head of US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), made the disclosure during a House Armed Services Committee hearing on US military posture in the western hemisphere. Asked by Lance Gooden, a... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3346940/us-military-tracks-23-chinese-port-projects-latin-america-general-tells-congress?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3346940/us-military-tracks-23-chinese-port-projects-latin-america-general-tells-congress?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Mar 2026 21:08:51 +0000 Chao Kong Chao Kong Large passenger jets and advanced chips, BeiDou satellites and the Tiangong space station: these large-scale science and technology projects could be part of China’s efforts to mobilise resources nationwide to speed up the development of new weapons, according to a study by researchers with China’s top defence university. China’s military modernisation has accelerated at a pace that unsettles many analysts in Washington. In the past decade alone, Beijing has rolled out a sequence of major... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3346364/how-china-beating-us-new-weapons-race-fraction-budget?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3346364/how-china-beating-us-new-weapons-race-fraction-budget?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Mar 2026 22:00:10 +0000 Alcott Wei Alcott Wei China is using AI to help its radars better detect low-altitude drones, according to a top Chinese military scientist who said drone swarm tactics – as used in the US’ ongoing attack on Iran – were an emerging challenge for radar systems. Xu Jin, a leading air-defence radar expert and a member of China’s top political advisory body, the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, revealed the AI initiative in an interview with the South China Morning Post on... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3346493/china-announces-ai-boost-radar-drone-swarms-confound-detectors-iran-war?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3346493/china-announces-ai-boost-radar-drone-swarms-confound-detectors-iran-war?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Mar 2026 09:01:31 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier Mainland Chinese citizens feel more favourable towards Taiwan than they did six months ago, support a hardline stance towards the US if another trade war erupts and view Russia and North Korea most positively and Japan least positively among their neighbours, according to a new survey by the Carter Centre and Emory University. One finding that comes through loud and clear, its authors said, is that mainlanders believe they have arrived and their country now belongs in a grouping limited to China... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3346151/mainland-chinese-see-taiwan-positively-wont-retreat-us-trade-war-survey?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3346151/mainland-chinese-see-taiwan-positively-wont-retreat-us-trade-war-survey?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Mar 2026 20:50:18 +0000 Reuters Reuters ⁠Australia has raised concerns with ⁠China following an “unsafe and ⁠unprofessional” encounter between two military helicopters, the defence department said on Friday. An Australian military helicopter was flying over international waters in the Yellow Sea when it was intercepted by a Chinese helicopter on Wednesday, a statement ‌said. The Chinese helicopter matched the Australian aircraft’s altitude before “closing in to an unsafe distance”, increasing speed and then rolling towards it,... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3345781/australia-complains-china-after-encounter-between-military-helicopters?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3345781/australia-complains-china-after-encounter-between-military-helicopters?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Mar 2026 18:27:12 +0000 SCMP Reporter SCMP Reporter China’s Ministry of Finance released its draft 2026 budget report, including plans for a more proactive fiscal policy to support the domestic market, advanced technology and public welfare. Major central government expenditures: National defence: 1.91 trillion yuan, up 7 per cent Debt interest payments: 874 billion yuan, up 6.7 per cent Science and technology: 426 billion yuan, up 10 per cent Public security: 258 billion yuan, up 5.9 per cent Education: 192 billion yuan, up 5 per... https://www.scmp.com/plus/economy/china-economy/article/3345507/draft-budget-report-2026?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/economy/china-economy/article/3345507/draft-budget-report-2026?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Mar 2026 03:55:49 +0000 Amber Wang Amber Wang China and Iran may be strategic partners but, as was the case with America’s special operation in Venezuela in January, China has offered no security support to Iran over the US and Israeli attacks. The decision was based on a consideration of Beijing’s own interests, its ties with the US and other countries, and to minimise military and financial risks to China, according to analysts. Since the large-scale attacks against Iran began over the weekend, Beijing has limited its response to... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3345387/why-china-staying-sidelines-us-iran-conflict?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3345387/why-china-staying-sidelines-us-iran-conflict?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Mar 2026 12:00:08 +0000 Kandy Wong,Frank Chen Kandy Wong,Frank Chen Beijing and Washington have begun discussing ways to revive reciprocal investment – a move that could be one of the few deliverables during an upcoming China visit by US President Donald Trump, according to multiple sources. The investment issue was touched upon as working-level officials prepared for Trump’s trip, which is scheduled to take place between March 31 and April 2. However, the potential scope and structure of such investments remain undefined, sources said. One source said both... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3345165/us-china-discuss-investment-revival-ahead-trumps-trip-sources?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3345165/us-china-discuss-investment-revival-ahead-trumps-trip-sources?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Mar 2026 02:00:14 +0000 Xinlu Liang Xinlu Liang Chinese military academics have stepped up calls to overhaul defence language training, arguing that linguistic proficiency has become as critical as firepower in modern warfare – a lesson starkly underscored by the Ukraine war. Among them is Lu Danyun, a professor at the military-affiliated National University of Defence Technology and a representative on China’s top lawmaking body, the National People’s Congress. In a report published in the official People’s Liberation Army (PLA) newspaper,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3345144/language-weapon-pla-academics-push-training-overhaul-cite-ukraine-war?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3345144/language-weapon-pla-academics-push-training-overhaul-cite-ukraine-war?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Mar 2026 01:00:10 +0000 Raymond Ma,Neil Denslow Raymond Ma,Neil Denslow Chinese lawmakers gather next week for the annual “two sessions” legislative meetings, where they will approve the 15th five-year plan and likely see a shift towards less emphasis on economic growth. Premier Li Qiang will summarise the new five-year plan and announce the 2026 GDP target on March 5, the first day of meetings for the National People’s Congress, the country’s legislature. Lawmakers will likely give near-unanimous support to the plan, which runs through 2030, when the meeting... https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/politics/article/3344851/two-sessions-trump-tariffs-jdcom-earnings?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/politics/article/3344851/two-sessions-trump-tariffs-jdcom-earnings?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Feb 2026 09:00:08 +0000 Khushboo Razdan Khushboo Razdan A former fighter pilot in the United States Air Force, once entrusted with flying some of America’s most advanced combat aircraft, has been arrested for allegedly training pilots from China’s People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) without authorisation, the US Department of Justice said. In a press release on Wednesday, the Department of Justice (DOJ) alleged that 65-year-old Gerald Eddie Brown Jr., also known by his call sign “Runner”, was taken into custody in Jeffersonville, Indiana,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3344792/former-us-air-force-fighter-pilot-accused-secretly-training-chinese-military?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3344792/former-us-air-force-fighter-pilot-accused-secretly-training-chinese-military?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Feb 2026 22:19:03 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg The Pentagon plans to spend an additional US$12.6 billion to improve surveillance of China’s military manoeuvres, submarines and satellites as the US tries to counter the “unprecedented Chinese military build-up” in Asia, according to a budget document sent to Congress. The funds, approved by Congress outside the normal budget process, are designed to improve US military readiness, offensive cyber capabilities and surveillance efforts across the Indo-Pacific. It will also help expand operations... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3344653/pentagon-spends-us12-billion-surveillance-counter-chinas-military-build-asia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3344653/pentagon-spends-us12-billion-surveillance-counter-chinas-military-build-asia?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Feb 2026 18:05:35 +0000 Sylvia Ma Sylvia Ma The Australian frigate HMAS Toowoomba sailed through the Taiwan Strait on Friday and Saturday, monitored closely by the People’s Liberation Army, which remained on alert throughout the transit, according to a mainland Chinese media report. The Global Times, a nationalist newspaper affiliated with the Communist Party mouthpiece People’s Daily, reported the vessel’s passage on Saturday, citing a Chinese military source. Citing a military fan site that monitors airspace activities around the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3344247/beijing-monitors-australian-frigate-hmas-toowoombas-passage-through-taiwan-strait?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3344247/beijing-monitors-australian-frigate-hmas-toowoombas-passage-through-taiwan-strait?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Feb 2026 07:59:54 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi China’s push to sell its J-35 fifth generation fighter jet in the Asia-Pacific was likely to face stiff competition from US rival the F-35 as well as cheaper alternatives, military analysts said after the plane featured at this year’s Singapore Airshow. They said political and economic considerations apart from performance would weigh on potential buyers, and questioned how many countries would want to buy the Chinese plane. In Singapore this month, the booth operated by China National... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3344208/can-china-find-market-its-fifth-generation-j-35-warplanes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3344208/can-china-find-market-its-fifth-generation-j-35-warplanes?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Feb 2026 14:00:09 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier The White House declined on Wednesday to comment on reports that US President Donald Trump is weighing whether to cancel or delay a major new arms package to Taiwan, as he seeks to keep an expected April summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on track amid pressure from Beijing. “I don’t have any announcement or updates to share,” said White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt. On Monday, Trump told journalists he had discussed the potential sales with Xi. “I’ve talked to him about it. We had a... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3343949/white-house-deflects-trump-weighs-taiwan-arms-sale-delay-amid-beijing-pressure?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3343949/white-house-deflects-trump-weighs-taiwan-arms-sale-delay-amid-beijing-pressure?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Feb 2026 23:42:33 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen With the unveiling of the long-range hypersonic CJ-1000 missiles, China has surpassed the United States in the critical race to field practical scramjet propulsion systems, according to a mainland military magazine. Alongside the ship-launched YJ-19, the CJ-1000 road-mobile cruise missile was one of two hypersonic missiles powered by advanced air-breathing scramjet engines on show during the Victory Day military parade in Beijing in September last year. They are the world’s only two operational... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3343917/how-china-overtook-us-hypersonic-arms-and-may-leave-air-defences-powerless?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3343917/how-china-overtook-us-hypersonic-arms-and-may-leave-air-defences-powerless?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Feb 2026 22:00:35 +0000 Xinmei Shen,Khushboo Razdan,Vincent Chow Xinmei Shen,Khushboo Razdan,Vincent Chow In a move that escalates tensions between Beijing and Washington just weeks ahead of US President Donald Trump’s anticipated trip to Beijing, the Pentagon added a wide range of Chinese companies to a list of firms with alleged links to the military before withdrawing the document. Giants like Alibaba Group Holding, Baidu and BYD are among the firms added to the list. Alibaba is the parent company of the South China Morning Post. The updated designation also names firms spanning the biotech, AI,... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3343540/pentagon-adds-chinese-firms-military-list-then-withdraws-filing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3343540/pentagon-adds-chinese-firms-military-list-then-withdraws-filing?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Feb 2026 16:36:23 +0000 Yuanyue Dang Yuanyue Dang China’s official military paper has revealed another incident in which PLA fighter jets radar-locked a foreign stealth aircraft, four months after state media reported a similar encounter. A social media account affiliated with the PLA Daily said in an article published on Wednesday that Eastern Theatre Command fighter jets locked their radar onto a foreign stealth aircraft at a distance of 800 metres (2,624 feet). The article did not say when or where the encounter took place. Military... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3343509/chinese-fighter-jets-locked-radar-foreign-stealth-plane-800-metres-pla-daily?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3343509/chinese-fighter-jets-locked-radar-foreign-stealth-plane-800-metres-pla-daily?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Feb 2026 11:47:18 +0000 Alcott Wei Alcott Wei The PLA has been told to close the funding loopholes and tackle the deep flaws in combat readiness exposed by an anti-corruption drive in the aftermath of the downfall of China’s top general. In a brief Lunar New Year speech via video link to the People’s Liberation Army on Tuesday, Chinese President Xi Jinping called on the PLA to bolster combat training and maintain a state of combat readiness, according to state broadcaster CCTV. “The past year has been unusual and extraordinary. The PLA has... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3343348/make-every-penny-count-combat-chinas-military-told-countdown-lunar-new-year?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3343348/make-every-penny-count-combat-chinas-military-told-countdown-lunar-new-year?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Feb 2026 03:00:16 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen The Central Military Commission, the top decision-making body overseeing the People’s Liberation Army, is set for a leadership reshuffle after the downfall of most of its members. President Xi Jinping is now in his third term as chairman of the commission. But now five of the other six members of the commission – who were all originally expected to serve a five-year term, ending in 2027 – are no longer active. Last month Zhang Youxia, first-ranked vice-chairman of the CMC and China’s most senior... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3343361/what-chinas-central-military-commission-and-how-does-it-operate-amid-anti-graft-drive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3343361/what-chinas-central-military-commission-and-how-does-it-operate-amid-anti-graft-drive?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Feb 2026 00:00:32 +0000 Yuanyue Dang Yuanyue Dang China has deployed a section of its mysterious cyberspace force to the South China Sea to remain “ready for action”, with the unit making a rare appearance in Chinese President Xi Jinping’s Lunar New Year greeting to the military. Xi conveyed his Lunar New Year message to multiple branches of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) via video on Wednesday from Beijing’s Bayi Building – the headquarters of the powerful military command body, the Central Military Commission – according to state... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3343312/xis-new-year-message-military-reveals-pla-cyberspace-force-post-south-china-sea?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3343312/xis-new-year-message-military-reveals-pla-cyberspace-force-post-south-china-sea?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Feb 2026 12:00:12 +0000 Amber Wang Amber Wang With jets forming complex formations overhead and displays on the ground of the world’s most advanced fighters, manufacturers from the US, China, South Korea and Turkey gathered in Riyadh to pursue deals of financial and strategic weight. China exhibited model J-10CE and J-35A fighter jets at the World Defence Show, along with Wing Loong and Rainbow series drones which have been making inroads into the Middle East. Analysts noted that while Chinese drones were continuing to attract buyers,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3343272/chinas-middle-east-arms-edge-overshadowed-turkey-and-south-korea-riyadh-show?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3343272/chinas-middle-east-arms-edge-overshadowed-turkey-and-south-korea-riyadh-show?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Feb 2026 06:00:15 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen The world’s fastest air-launched anti-ship cruise missile appears to be in service in the Chinese navy. A photo of a carrier-based J-15T fighter equipped with two YJ-15 missiles has surfaced online in what seems to be a highly operational configuration. The South China Morning Post cannot verify the authenticity of the widely circulated image but, if genuine, the photo would confirm that the missile was designed for the People’s Liberation Army’s naval and air force tactical aircraft, such as... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3342769/has-yj-15-missile-been-deployed-chinese-navy-photo-gives-clues?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3342769/has-yj-15-missile-been-deployed-chinese-navy-photo-gives-clues?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Feb 2026 13:00:08 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier The United States accused China on Friday of failing to disclose a 2020 nuclear test, violating what a US official suggested was an understanding involving a 1996 nuclear test ban treaty that both countries signed but neither ratified. This came as Washington called this week for a broad new arms-control treaty to include China, Russia and the US after it declined to extend the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (Start), the world’s last binding nuclear arms control agreement. Russia had... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3342733/us-accuses-china-secret-nuclear-testing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3342733/us-accuses-china-secret-nuclear-testing?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Feb 2026 18:52:37 +0000 Lucy Quaggin Lucy Quaggin US President Donald Trump wants to build his “Dream Military”. In January, he proposed setting military spending at US$1.5 trillion in 2027 while citing “very troubled and dangerous times”. The move would increase the country’s defence budget by around 50 per cent amid growing concern at the Pentagon about China’s AI advancements. As the United States and China race to develop the latest artificial intelligence, the use of AI technology in the military has become a battleground in its own right,... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3342412/us-and-china-defence-sectors-emerge-key-battlegrounds-race-ai?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3342412/us-and-china-defence-sectors-emerge-key-battlegrounds-race-ai?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Feb 2026 16:00:42 +0000 Brian Rhoads,Neil Denslow Brian Rhoads,Neil Denslow The last treaty limiting nuclear weapons deployments by the US and Russia expires on Thursday, ending more than 50 years of restraints on the world’s two biggest nuclear powers. Russia has offered a one-year extension to New Start, which was originally signed in 2010 by then-presidents Dmitry Medvedev and Barack Obama. No “substantive reaction” has been received from the US, Medvedev, now deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council, said in a recent interview with the Kommersant... https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/article/3342231/china-grows-nuclear-arsenal-last-us-russia-limits-expire?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/article/3342231/china-grows-nuclear-arsenal-last-us-russia-limits-expire?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Feb 2026 09:01:31 +0000 Amber Wang Amber Wang In its latest efforts to reinforce the Communist Party line in China’s armed forces, the PLA Daily took aim at one particular invasive species: “big rats”. The rats were eating away at the PLA’s budget and undermining combat readiness, the military mouthpiece said, adding that they had to be eradicated. “[We] must take strong and forceful measures to crack down on corrupt practices that undermine the building of combat abilities, and thoroughly investigate and root out those ‘big rats’ who... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3341985/was-general-zhang-youxia-one-big-rats-eating-chinas-military-budget?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3341985/was-general-zhang-youxia-one-big-rats-eating-chinas-military-budget?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Feb 2026 10:00:19 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen A new PLA missile could provide a cheap and widely deployable option to knock out fragile US sea-lifting capabilities in an attrition war, a Chinese military magazine has suggested. The YJ-18C, a subsonic land-attack cruise missile first revealed in Beijing’s September 3 Victory Day military parade, has the potential to be repurposed for anti-ship use, according to an analysis in Shipborne Weapons Defence Review. This was because it bore similarities to the US AGM-158C LRASM (long-range... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3341929/will-new-chinas-yj-18c-missile-be-logistics-killer-us-navy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3341929/will-new-chinas-yj-18c-missile-be-logistics-killer-us-navy?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 31 Jan 2026 22:00:10 +0000 Zhao Ziwen Zhao Ziwen The People’s Liberation Army has moved to tighten control over fuel supplies as part of its latest efforts to improve logistics – a cornerstone of combat readiness. New regulations issued “recently” aimed to standardise the process of military fuel management in areas such as procurement, transport, storage and disposal, the official PLA Daily said on Tuesday. The rules were also designed to introduce strict controls and joint military-civilian oversight to prevent misuse and to ensure... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3341934/chinas-military-tightens-fuel-supply-rules-us-investigates-cause-twin-air-crashes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3341934/chinas-military-tightens-fuel-supply-rules-us-investigates-cause-twin-air-crashes?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 31 Jan 2026 12:00:08 +0000 Shi Jiangtao Shi Jiangtao China carried out naval and air patrols around Scarborough Shoal on Saturday – just days after joint US-Philippine drills nearby – underscoring tensions in the disputed South China Sea waters. The PLA Southern Theatre Command issued a statement on the “combat readiness patrols” near the shoal, which China calls Huangyan Island. They were aimed at countering “infringement and provocative actions by individual countries”, it said, in a thinly veiled reference to the United States and rival... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3341949/chinese-military-patrols-scarborough-shoal-5-days-after-us-philippine-drills-area?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3341949/chinese-military-patrols-scarborough-shoal-5-days-after-us-philippine-drills-area?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 31 Jan 2026 11:35:22 +0000 Alcott Wei,Seong Hyeon Choi Alcott Wei,Seong Hyeon Choi The first close-up image of the Chinese PL-17 long-range missile – one of the most mysterious weapons in the PLA Air Force’s arsenal – appears to have surfaced online. Analysts say the PL-17 may be the world’s longest-range air-to-air missile, posing a threat to US air superiority in the western Pacific. A photo believed to show the PL-17 has recently been making the rounds on Chinese social media. The date and location of the photo are unclear, although the angle of view is extremely close. The... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3341883/has-chinas-pl-17-missile-likely-pacific-game-changer-finally-been-seen-close?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3341883/has-chinas-pl-17-missile-likely-pacific-game-changer-finally-been-seen-close?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 30 Jan 2026 14:00:15 +0000 Meredith Chen Meredith Chen China’s leadership has paid tribute to Liao Xilong, praising the late general for his loyalty to the Communist Party and military service. Liao, 85, who was in charge of overhauling military logistics, died on January 23, state news agency Xinhua reported on Thursday, the day of his funeral. “[Liao was] a time-tested and loyal communist warrior, an outstanding military commander, and an exemplary leader in advancing the comprehensive modernisation of military logistics,” the report said. The... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3341735/communist-warrior-chinas-leaders-pay-tribute-late-general-liao-xilong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3341735/communist-warrior-chinas-leaders-pay-tribute-late-general-liao-xilong?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 29 Jan 2026 15:00:22 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen The US faces critical “sustainment risks” that might lead to rapid defeat in a conflict with China, according to a Heritage Foundation report, which also found that while such a scenario could start in the Taiwan Strait, it would not be contained there. Based on the findings of an AI-based study called Tidalwave – after a 1943 operation of the same name – the right-wing think tank urged Washington to immediately strengthen American fuel and munitions reserves and logistical networks. At the same... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3341565/would-chinese-or-us-supply-lines-be-more-vulnerable-pacific-conflict?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3341565/would-chinese-or-us-supply-lines-be-more-vulnerable-pacific-conflict?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 28 Jan 2026 14:00:09 +0000 Alcott Wei Alcott Wei China should consider following the US’ lead by investing in low-cost guided munitions to counter future mass drone warfare, according to a Chinese military magazine. The suggestion surfaced in an article in Ordnance Science and Technology this month, which said the United States was finding it too expensive and unsustainable to use advanced munitions against Houthi drone harassment in the Red Sea and to support Ukraine against large-scale low-cost Russian air strikes. The article said that in... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3341534/china-urged-follow-us-lead-developing-low-cost-munitions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3341534/china-urged-follow-us-lead-developing-low-cost-munitions?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 28 Jan 2026 09:00:09 +0000 Meredith Chen Meredith Chen Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun urged closer strategic coordination between Beijing and Moscow and bolstering joint capacity to respond to risks and challenges in a video call with his Russian counterpart on Tuesday. Dong told Andrei Belousov that Beijing was willing to “enrich the substance of cooperation, improve communication and exchange mechanisms, jointly enhance the ability to respond to various risks and challenges and work hand in hand to inject positive energy into global security... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3341451/china-and-russia-bolster-defence-ties-counter-risks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3341451/china-and-russia-bolster-defence-ties-counter-risks?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 27 Jan 2026 13:13:55 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi China’s new dry dock near the South China Sea could help it avoid having an aircraft carrier “gap” in the disputed waterway and pave the way for military outreach to the Indian Ocean, analysts said. According to a report by American geospatial intelligence company AllSource Analysis, satellite imagery on January 21 showed the first use of a new dry dock at Yulin Naval Base in the southern Chinese province of Hainan, for the likely maintenance of PLA Navy aircraft carriers. The report said... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3341270/shandongs-use-plas-newest-dry-dock-near-south-china-sea-suggests-carrier-milestone?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3341270/shandongs-use-plas-newest-dry-dock-near-south-china-sea-suggests-carrier-milestone?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 26 Jan 2026 10:36:10 +0000 Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma China placed its most senior military officer and another top general under investigation for suspected “serious” disciplinary violations, extending a corruption push that has hollowed out the leadership of the nation’s military. Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli are “suspected of serious violations of discipline and law”, the defence ministry said in a short announcement on Saturday. Both generals sit on the Central Military Commission (CMC), China’s top military body, with Zhang, 75, only ranking... https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/politics/article/3341261/chinas-top-general-ousted-corruption-investigation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/politics/article/3341261/chinas-top-general-ousted-corruption-investigation?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 26 Jan 2026 09:18:34 +0000 William Zheng William Zheng Top Chinese military leaders Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli are under investigation for suspected “serious” disciplinary violations, according to the Ministry of National Defence. Zhang is the first-ranked vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), China’s top military command body headed by President Xi Jinping, while Liu is chief of its Joint Staff Department. Zhang’s position as CMC No 2 after Xi makes him the highest-ranking uniformed officer in the Chinese military. Zhang and Liu... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3341098/china-places-top-pla-leaders-zhang-youxia-and-liu-zhenli-under-investigation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3341098/china-places-top-pla-leaders-zhang-youxia-and-liu-zhenli-under-investigation?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 24 Jan 2026 07:16:56 +0000 Alcott Wei Alcott Wei The People’s Liberation Army has released fresh details of its tests of AI-enabled drone swarm warfare, saying a single soldier can control a swarm of more than 200 drones. In a defence news programme aired on Tuesday, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV released details of a drone swarm test conducted by the PLA-affiliated National University of Defence Technology. Drone swarm warfare relies on artificial intelligence and data links to launch hundreds of drones in a short time. These drones could... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3340972/1-soldier-200-drones-china-showcases-rapid-launch-and-agility-swarm-warfare-tactics?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3340972/1-soldier-200-drones-china-showcases-rapid-launch-and-agility-swarm-warfare-tactics?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 Jan 2026 10:00:15 +0000 Shi Jiangtao Shi Jiangtao The Chinese navy and coastguard said on Friday that they rescued 17 Filipino crew members from a Singaporean-flagged cargo ship that had capsized near Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea. According to the China Coast Guard (CCG), the Maritime Search and Rescue Centre in Sansha, Hainan province, received a distress report at around 1.30am on Friday. The vessel appeared to be in trouble about 55 nautical miles northwest of Scarborough Shoal, known as Huangyan Island in China. The centre sent... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3340950/chinese-coastguard-rescues-filipino-sailors-near-scarborough-shoal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3340950/chinese-coastguard-rescues-filipino-sailors-near-scarborough-shoal?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 Jan 2026 06:44:46 +0000 Khushboo Razdan,Bochen Han Khushboo Razdan,Bochen Han A move to curb US President Donald Trump’s power to sell advanced AI chips to China moved a step closer on Wednesday when a Republican-led congressional panel joined hands with their Democratic counterparts, brushing aside objections from the White House and chip giant Nvidia. The action has put Representative Brian Mast, the Republican chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, on a collision course with Trump’s top AI adviser David Sacks and drawn sharp criticism from Maga-aligned... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3340751/trumps-decision-sell-ai-chips-china-under-pressure-house-bill-against-deal-advances?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3340751/trumps-decision-sell-ai-chips-china-under-pressure-house-bill-against-deal-advances?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 21 Jan 2026 23:14:09 +0000 Liu Zhen,Zhao Ziwen Liu Zhen,Zhao Ziwen People’s Liberation Army activities in the Taiwan Strait are being closely watched by the United States and Japan and it needs to find a way to operate effectively while being surveilled, according to analysts. A report by Beijing-based defence think tank Lande said the PLA’s most recent large-scale drills around Taiwan – dubbed Justice Mission 2025 – were launched with no warning yet the response from the US and Japan was immediate. It said that highlighted the constant presence in the region... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3340431/pla-urged-find-way-operate-effectively-under-gaze-us-and-japan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3340431/pla-urged-find-way-operate-effectively-under-gaze-us-and-japan?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 19 Jan 2026 10:00:26 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang The People’s Liberation Army said it sent a drone into airspace near the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Island on Saturday, as Beijing ramps up military pressure amid soaring cross-strait tensions. The deployment was “a routine flight training in the airspace around China’s Dongsha Island, which was completely legitimate and lawful”, the PLA Southern Theatre Command, which oversees the South China Sea, said in a statement on Saturday. It came hours after the Taiwanese defence ministry reported that a... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3340297/pla-sends-drone-airspace-near-taiwan-held-pratas-island-south-china-sea?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3340297/pla-sends-drone-airspace-near-taiwan-held-pratas-island-south-china-sea?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 18 Jan 2026 05:22:53 +0000 Bochen Han Bochen Han A US spending bill approving US$300 million in cash assistance for Taiwan’s military has passed the House of Representatives and is expected to become law. On Wednesday, the House passed a two-bill government spending package that would fund the Departments of the Treasury and State through September, along with other federal agencies, bringing the total to eight of 12 annual spending bills needed by January 30, to avoid a government shutdown. The bills must now clear the Senate before they can... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3340074/us-bill-approving-us300-million-taiwans-military-passed-house?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3340074/us-bill-approving-us300-million-taiwans-military-passed-house?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Jan 2026 22:09:56 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen The US Secretary of the Navy on Tuesday outlined US President Donald Trump’s Golden Fleet initiative, stating that revitalising the American shipbuilding industry was essential for restoring strategic maritime dominance over China. Speaking at the Surface Navy Association symposium, Secretary John Phelan emphasised the importance of a strong industrial base, warning that the US Navy is currently unable to compete with Beijing’s production capacity. “To be a superpower, you need a dominant... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3339933/trumps-golden-fleet-shipbuilding-push-give-us-military-and-strategic-advantage?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3339933/trumps-golden-fleet-shipbuilding-push-give-us-military-and-strategic-advantage?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 14 Jan 2026 20:05:43 +0000