https://www.scmp.com/rss/321623/feed Liu Zhen joined the Post in 2015 as a reporter on the China desk. She previously worked with Reuters in Beijing. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Liu Zhen Liu Zhen The Pentagon is considering outsourcing warship design and building to South Korea and Japan with a proposed US$1.85 billion feasibility study into the project, according to US media reports. The study – included in the 2027 budget – will look at the feasibility of adopting or co-producing advanced hulls such as Japan’s Mogami-class and South Korea’s Daegu-class frigates to supplement the US Navy’s overstretched production lines, USNI News reported on Friday. If the plan goes ahead it will be... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3351627/pentagon-mulls-plan-outsource-warship-design-and-building-south-korea-japan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3351627/pentagon-mulls-plan-outsource-warship-design-and-building-south-korea-japan?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Apr 2026 01:02:11 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen A Chinese naval video has fuelled speculation that its next aircraft carrier is likely to be nuclear-powered. The film Into The Deep was released on Wednesday to mark the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Liberation Army Navy. Highlighting the continuity of China’s maritime ambitions, from coastal defence to a “blue-water” navy capable of deep-sea operations, the film also included footage from real-life drills in the western Pacific and the use of advanced equipment. It also... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3351420/did-china-just-drop-hint-its-next-aircraft-carrier-will-be-nuclear-powered?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3351420/did-china-just-drop-hint-its-next-aircraft-carrier-will-be-nuclear-powered?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Apr 2026 12:00:08 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen China’s military mouthpiece has urged the People’s Liberation Army to speed up integration of artificial intelligence and said AI-driven warfare was at a “turning point” – as seen in the US-Israeli campaign against Iran. In a commentary on Thursday, PLA Daily pointed to the use of AI in the Middle East war and said it was the first time the technology had been integrated into the entire cycle of operations – from analysis of intelligence to target identification, planning and assessment. “This... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3351303/iran-war-shows-strategic-value-ai-chinas-military-pla-daily-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3351303/iran-war-shows-strategic-value-ai-chinas-military-pla-daily-says?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Apr 2026 10:00:28 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen The United States’ depleted stockpile of munitions from its war on Iran and limited production capacity will be a critical vulnerability against stronger adversaries, according to Chinese military observers. During the 39 days of war before the ceasefire, the US is estimated to have used about half of both its Patriot air defence missiles and the longer-range Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) interceptors. Stockpiles of Standard Missile 3 (SM-3) and Standard Missile 6 (SM-6)... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3351140/chinese-military-experts-take-stock-us-munitions-weak-spot-exposed-iran-war?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3351140/chinese-military-experts-take-stock-us-munitions-weak-spot-exposed-iran-war?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 10:00:15 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen A Chinese military magazine has suggested that if Taiwan sends a swarm of uncrewed combat boats across the strait – a strategy inspired by Ukraine – Beijing could counter with its GJ-21 stealth attack drones. According to a commentary in Defence Review, the GJ-21 has long endurance and high manoeuvrability, which would give it a critical advantage against a “game changing” swarm attack by unmanned surface vessels. The GJ-21 – a naval variant of the GJ-11 Sharp Sword – is the world’s first and... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3350616/how-pla-may-use-stealth-drones-swarming-boat-attack-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3350616/how-pla-may-use-stealth-drones-swarming-boat-attack-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Apr 2026 12:00:09 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen The “drone-killing” success of Iran’s 358 loitering munition, especially against expensive US-made platforms, is attracting attention well beyond the battlefield in the Middle East. In China, state media has taken a look at the Iranian-designed counter-drone loitering interceptor’s reported role in bringing down multiple uncrewed aerial vehicles, or drones, like the MQ-9 “Reaper” in the US-Israel war on Iran. The 358 missile, also known as the SA-67, weighs about 50kg (110lbs). Powered by a... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3350564/lesson-china-irans-low-cost-358-missile-takes-out-million-dollar-us-assets?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3350564/lesson-china-irans-low-cost-358-missile-takes-out-million-dollar-us-assets?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Apr 2026 13:30:09 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen The People’s Liberation Army could use minelaying drones to blockade Japan and other waters in the strategic first island chain during a conflict over Taiwan, a mainland Chinese military magazine has suggested. The PLA’s strategy would see AJX002 drones used for “offensive minelaying” missions targeting Japan’s islands, including the Ryukyu archipelago, as well as the waters of the Philippines, according to an analysis in the latest edition of Shipborne Weapons. It comes as America’s blockade of... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3350562/could-pla-use-minelaying-drones-first-island-chain-blockade-over-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3350562/could-pla-use-minelaying-drones-first-island-chain-blockade-over-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Apr 2026 10:00:14 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen China’s new-generation medium-lift transport aircraft will surpass America’s best counterpart, the C-130J “Super Hercules”, in most performance metrics, according to a Chinese military magazine. The four-engine turboprop aircraft, frequently referred to as the Y-30 or Y-15, conducted its maiden test flight in December last year. It is developed by Shaanxi Aircraft Industry Corporation, a subsidiary of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC). The Chinese “new medium-lift transporter”,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3349648/move-over-hercules-chinas-new-y-30-aims-outmuscle-americas-best-transport-aircraft?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3349648/move-over-hercules-chinas-new-y-30-aims-outmuscle-americas-best-transport-aircraft?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Apr 2026 10:00:15 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen With the countdown on in earnest to the PLA’s centenary next year, President Xi Jinping has urged the corruption-battered top ranks of the military to refine their ideological purity to give the armed forces a “brand new look”. Xi told senior People’s Liberation Army officers on Wednesday to maintain resolute political loyalty to the Communist Party and said that any thought or action driven by self-interest or corruption was “fundamentally against the party’s nature and purpose”, state media... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3349470/xi-senior-officers-must-stay-pure-meet-chinese-militarys-centenary-goal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3349470/xi-senior-officers-must-stay-pure-meet-chinese-militarys-centenary-goal?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Apr 2026 05:02:07 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen The People’s Liberation Army division responsible for the East China Sea and the Taiwan Strait carried out a decontamination exercise amid targeting of Iranian nuclear facilities by the United States and Israel. A recent training exercise at an Eastern Theatre Command naval base included an emergency response to a simulated nuclear attack, according to a report on Tuesday by state broadcaster CCTV, which did not specify the time or location of the drill. The exercise focused on rapid detection... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3349361/pla-troops-facing-taiwan-strait-and-japan-simulate-response-nuclear-attack?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3349361/pla-troops-facing-taiwan-strait-and-japan-simulate-response-nuclear-attack?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Apr 2026 11:00:08 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen China has miniaturised the technology used to make electromagnetic cannons to develop a handheld coil gun, according to state media. The weapon was designed for stealth, non-lethal operations and law enforcement, state broadcaster CCTV reported on Saturday, adding that it could fire between 1,000 and 2,000 projectiles a minute and penetrate wooden boards from dozens of metres away. Its power levels can also be altered, meaning that on lower settings there is less chance it will kill someone and... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3349089/china-unveils-handheld-coil-gun-works-less-deadly-pistol?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3349089/china-unveils-handheld-coil-gun-works-less-deadly-pistol?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Apr 2026 12:00:11 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen Iran has demanded explanations from two Gulf states equipped with Chinese-made Wing Loong II drones after one was reportedly shot down in the war with the United States and Israel. Both the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia are known to have the reconnaissance and precision strike drones in their arsenals. The drone was shot down over the city of Shiraz on Thursday, according to Esmail Baqaei, a spokesman for the Iranian foreign ministry. Baqaei posted photos of drone wreckage on social... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3349036/iran-demands-explanations-saudis-and-uae-after-chinese-made-drone-was-shot-down?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3349036/iran-demands-explanations-saudis-and-uae-after-chinese-made-drone-was-shot-down?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 Apr 2026 09:51:34 +0000 Liu Zhen,Victoria Bela Liu Zhen,Victoria Bela One crew member from a US fighter jet shot down over Iran has been rescued by US forces, multiple news outlets reported on Friday, citing two US officials, while a second crew member remains missing. A separate US aircraft was also hit near the Strait of Hormuz, though its pilot was rescued safely, according to the reports. Iran claimed on Friday to have shot down the American jet, releasing photos of apparent wreckage of an F-15E. The United States reportedly launched a search-and-rescue... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3349006/one-us-pilot-rescued-another-missing-after-iran-says-it-downed-fighter-jet?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3349006/one-us-pilot-rescued-another-missing-after-iran-says-it-downed-fighter-jet?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 17:47:43 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen Japan plans to introduce a fleet of kamikaze drones and low-cost missiles to boost deterrence against regional threats including China, according to Japanese media reports. The Yomiuri newspaper and Kyodo news agency reported on Wednesday that the strategy was focused on “integrated attacks” from unmanned aerial vehicles and long-range stand-off missiles, citing government and ruling coalition sources. They said the drones and missiles would be used to break down enemy air defences and... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3348960/eye-china-japan-looks-kamikaze-drones-and-low-cost-missiles?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3348960/eye-china-japan-looks-kamikaze-drones-and-low-cost-missiles?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 10:00:23 +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 in the waters – also known in South Korea as the East Sea – were an example of... 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 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen China’s military mouthpiece accused Japan of “dangerously expanding” its defence industry – in capacity, technology and international engagement – and said it had “crossed the red line”. In a rare full-page report on Monday, PLA Daily claimed Japan possessed an “astonishing” stockpile of nuclear materials and that it had the technology to produce nuclear weapons. It said 44.4 tonnes of plutonium had already been separated by the end of 2024 – enough to make about 5,500 nuclear warheads. The... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3348518/japan-has-enough-plutonium-make-5500-nuclear-warheads-pla-daily-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3348518/japan-has-enough-plutonium-make-5500-nuclear-warheads-pla-daily-says?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Mar 2026 08:08:14 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen Citing security concerns, Beijing will significantly restrict drone sales, storage and transport after tightening regulation of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the Chinese capital’s airspace, according to state media. Beijing has banned the sale or lease of UAVs and 17 designated “core components” to any person or organisation unless granted public security approval, according to the regulation approved by the municipal legislative body on Friday. Bringing new drones or core components into... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3348257/beijing-tightens-drone-rules-citing-low-altitude-security-concerns?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3348257/beijing-tightens-drone-rules-citing-low-altitude-security-concerns?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Mar 2026 12:30:08 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen China’s military canine robots have evolved into intelligent “wolf packs” with specialised roles and a shared “brain” to coordinate complex tasks in urban warfare, according to state media. Compared with earlier models deployed and tested by the People’s Liberation Army, these “robot wolves” have achieved a transformational leap from a “single-soldier support system to a coordinated swarm combat platform”, state broadcaster CCTV said in a documentary series episode that aired on Thursday. The... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3348167/rise-wolf-pack-chinas-canine-robots-evolve-think-one-urban-combat?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3348167/rise-wolf-pack-chinas-canine-robots-evolve-think-one-urban-combat?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 10:01:18 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen Beijing should develop an air-based interceptor system as missile threats escalate from Washington and its regional allies, as well as Taiwan and India, a mainland Chinese military magazine has urged, pointing to developments in the Iran war. The war in the Middle East, particularly the “nearly insurmountable challenges” posed by Iran’s ballistic missiles to Israel, is exposing the limitations of existing midcourse and terminal-phase missile defence systems, according to an analysis in the March... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3347981/iran-war-shows-why-china-must-change-course-missile-interception-tech-analysis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3347981/iran-war-shows-why-china-must-change-course-missile-interception-tech-analysis?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 10:00:18 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen A pair of advanced destroyers kicked off an intensive and wide-ranging training exercise soon after they were assigned to the People’s Liberation Army division that oversees Taiwan and the East China Sea. The newly commissioned 12,000-tonne guided-missile destroyers, the Dongguan and Anqing, took part in their first live-fire training in mid-March, simulating high-intensity combat missions, the official PLA Daily reported on Sunday. The Type 055 “super destroyers” are the first of their kind in... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3347726/new-type-055-destroyers-pla-east-china-fleet-tested-first-live-fire-drill?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3347726/new-type-055-destroyers-pla-east-china-fleet-tested-first-live-fire-drill?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Mar 2026 10:12:05 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen While Iranian Shahed-136 suicide drones recently drew attention for destroying key US radars and striking targets as far away as Cyprus in the US-Israel war on Iran, their distant “cousins” in China may pose an even higher risk in a future conflict. China’s ASN-301 shares the Iranian drone’s aerodynamic delta-wing design that is rooted in a common technological origin. The Chinese drone and its variants have evolved into either a highly sophisticated SEAD (suppression of enemy air defences)... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3347494/why-chinas-asn-301-suicide-drone-more-deadly-its-iranian-counterpart?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3347494/why-chinas-asn-301-suicide-drone-more-deadly-its-iranian-counterpart?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Mar 2026 14:00:13 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen Recent mishaps involving the USS Gerald R. Ford suggest America’s military is overstretched and its industrial base has been weakened, according to Chinese analysts. The warship – the world’s most advanced nuclear-powered aircraft carrier – has been supporting the US operation against Iran in the Red Sea. But US media reported this week that it would head to Greece for repairs after a 30-hour fire last Thursday destroyed more than 600 sailors’ berths. That followed reports in January of plumbing... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3347171/troubled-us-aircraft-carrier-moving-away-iran-does-it-reflect-bigger-problems?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3347171/troubled-us-aircraft-carrier-moving-away-iran-does-it-reflect-bigger-problems?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Mar 2026 10:00:33 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen The People’s Liberation Army has announced a new AI-assisted task dispatch system for China’s aerial refuelling tankers, days after a US military tanker crashed in the Middle East. According to the official PLA Daily, the Chinese air force has streamlined its aerial refuelling operations with a smart artificial intelligence (AI) system to improve efficiency and safety. The report on Monday came just days after a US Air Force Boeing KC-135 “Stratotanker” aerial refuelling tanker crashed in... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3347011/chinas-pla-reveals-ai-assisted-aerial-refuelling-tech-days-after-us-military-tanker-crash?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3347011/chinas-pla-reveals-ai-assisted-aerial-refuelling-tech-days-after-us-military-tanker-crash?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Mar 2026 01:00:13 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen Most of China’s nuclear warheads are located at a single facility in the country’s northwest and could be vulnerable during a conflict, according to a US think tank. In a report published this month, the US Air University’s China Aerospace Studies Institute detailed the warhead management and logistical structure of the People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force. The report, based on open-source intelligence, said much of China’s nuclear stockpile was stored at a single, centralised facility known as... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3346374/chinas-nuclear-warhead-storage-highly-concentrated-risk-us-report-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3346374/chinas-nuclear-warhead-storage-highly-concentrated-risk-us-report-says?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Mar 2026 13:30:07 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen Just days ahead of the US-Israeli air strikes on Iran, a news report suggested that Beijing was close to selling supersonic cruise missiles to Tehran – a move that could significantly boost the Islamic Republic’s capacity to counter US aircraft carriers. Before the world could work out whether game-changing Chinese missiles really would feature in an Iranian conflict against US forces, Beijing firmly denied the report, published by Reuters on February 24. Citing six sources, Reuters reported... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3346026/what-if-iran-really-did-buy-export-variant-chinas-yj-12-supersonic-missile?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3346026/what-if-iran-really-did-buy-export-variant-chinas-yj-12-supersonic-missile?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Mar 2026 04:00:08 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen China has lowered the operational cost of an anti-drone high-power microwave (HPM) system to just a few yuan per shot, making it a cost-effective option for policing applications, according to a state media report. The launch of an urban police anti-drone swarm microwave defence system marked a further reduction in cost and increased accessibility of HPM technology as it expanded into civilian applications, state broadcaster CCTV said on Saturday. Developed by state-owned 081 Electronics Group,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3346106/how-cheaply-can-china-fend-drone-swarm-its-latest-microwave-weapon?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3346106/how-cheaply-can-china-fend-drone-swarm-its-latest-microwave-weapon?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Mar 2026 11:00:11 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen China has revoked the political advisory seats of three generals, including two who previously held key positions in the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) ground force, as the anti-corruption drive continues within the top brass and defence industry. Han Weiguo, Gao Jin and Liu Lei were removed from membership of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and their respective roles in its Standing Committee and relevant special committees, the political advisory body said on... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3345215/generals-stripped-cppcc-roles-chinas-corruption-clean-continues?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3345215/generals-stripped-cppcc-roles-chinas-corruption-clean-continues?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Mar 2026 05:00:09 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen Beijing is expected to intensify naval operations beyond Taiwan and the first island chain, military observers say, citing the possible commissioning of Type 055 “super destroyers” into the East Sea Fleet. Photographs circulating on social media in late January showed two Type 055 guided-missile destroyers moored at a naval base in Zhoushan, located on the East China Sea coast. They had also been assigned hull numbers, 109 and 110, signalling imminent commissioning into the PLA Navy. This... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3345025/what-will-first-type-055-destroyers-pla-east-china-fleet-mean-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3345025/what-will-first-type-055-destroyers-pla-east-china-fleet-mean-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Mar 2026 12:00:08 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen Beijing appears to be testing its 155mm (6.1-inch) naval gun to boost the PLA Navy’s land-attack firepower. The weapon would be the biggest in the People’s Liberation Army’s naval arsenal and could be useful in an amphibious operation against Taiwan. Photos of the massive weapon mounted on the bow of a test vessel have recently emerged on Chinese social media. The location was identified as the Liaonan shipyard in Dalian, in China’s northeastern Liaoning province. The estimated barrel length and... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3344362/chinas-155mm-naval-gun-seen-test-vessel-signalling-boost-amphibious-landing-power?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3344362/chinas-155mm-naval-gun-seen-test-vessel-signalling-boost-amphibious-landing-power?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Feb 2026 13:00:08 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen China has launched its first next-generation Type 095 nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN), according to satellite imagery analysed by defence experts. It marks a significant leap as Beijing ramps up the underwater arms race to challenge US naval dominance in technology and production. Images captured between February 9 and 12 showed the vessel being fitted out at the Bohai Shipyard in Huludao, Liaoning province, according to Janes and Naval News. Defence analysts said the pictures revealed a... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3344256/chinas-type-095-nuclear-submarine-spotted-first-time-new-satellite-images?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3344256/chinas-type-095-nuclear-submarine-spotted-first-time-new-satellite-images?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Feb 2026 14:00:09 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen China’s military and a tech firm have released high-resolution satellite imagery showing the US military build-up around Iran, amid reports that Washington may strike Tehran as soon as this weekend. Images posted on social media on Thursday by Chinese commercial satellite analysis company MizarVision show the latest American deployments at bases in Qatar, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. The images from Jordan show 18 F-35 Lightning II stealth fighters and six EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3344129/pla-chinese-firm-release-satellite-images-showing-us-military-build-around-iran?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3344129/pla-chinese-firm-release-satellite-images-showing-us-military-build-around-iran?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Feb 2026 10:00:12 +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 Liu Zhen,Zhao Ziwen Liu Zhen,Zhao Ziwen China’s Nantianmen Project – translated as Southern Celestial Gate – has captured widespread attention as a blend of science fiction storytelling and hi-tech military speculation. Launched in 2017 by a subsidiary of the state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China (Avic), the project originated as an aviation-themed sci-fi intellectual property (IP) rather than an active weapons development programme. At its core, the project serves as a creative vehicle to showcase more than 100... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3343433/everything-we-know-about-chinas-mysterious-futuristic-nantianmen-project?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3343433/everything-we-know-about-chinas-mysterious-futuristic-nantianmen-project?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Feb 2026 14:00:09 +0000 Liu Zhen,Zhao Ziwen Liu Zhen,Zhao Ziwen America’s increasing use of MQ-9 drones near China poses a challenge to Beijing and makes it more urgent for the People’s Liberation Army to improve counter-reconnaissance, according to military experts. The MQ-9 Reaper can carry out both reconnaissance and strike missions. It has been used for numerous high-profile operations, including the 2020 assassination of Iranian major general Qassem Soleimani. And it has been deployed as part of the US military’s surveillance network in the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3343673/why-growing-network-american-mq-9-drones-challenge-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3343673/why-growing-network-american-mq-9-drones-challenge-china?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Feb 2026 14:00:17 +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 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 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 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen Chinese President Xi Jinping received a unique gift from British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Beijing on Thursday: the official match ball from Manchester United’s 3-2 win over Arsenal, according to media reports. Starmer is on an official visit to China, the first by a British leader since 2018 and while he is an ardent Arsenal fan, Xi is reportedly a supporter of Manchester United. The gift linked two of the English Premier League’s most celebrated teams and was part of broader efforts to... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3341733/chinas-xi-britains-starmer-hopes-gift-manchester-united-match-ball-scores-points?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3341733/chinas-xi-britains-starmer-hopes-gift-manchester-united-match-ball-scores-points?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 29 Jan 2026 14:34:37 +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 Liu Zhen,Seong Hyeon Choi Liu Zhen,Seong Hyeon Choi Thailand, a US treaty ally, has been adding to its arsenal of Chinese-made weapons with deals for ships, tanks and other high-value hardware. Analysts put the trend down to pragmatic considerations. The Royal Thai Army has finalised a deal to buy an additional batch of Chinese-made VN-1 armoured vehicles for 1 billion baht (US$32 million). This is expected to add around 20 new units to its existing fleet of more than 100 VN-1s, according to local media reports. The contract was signed on January... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3341089/why-thailand-us-treaty-ally-stocking-chinese-weapons?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3341089/why-thailand-us-treaty-ally-stocking-chinese-weapons?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 24 Jan 2026 10:00:16 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen China is working on a powerful 50-megawatt gas turbine to propel its next generation of warships and key facilities, according to state media. The gas turbine – an advanced power generation unit – is being developed by state-owned China State Shipbuilding Corporation, Economic Daily reported on Monday. It is part of a push by Beijing to establish a self-reliant supply chain for sectors it sees as crucial to national security and China’s industrial base. Advanced gas turbine engines are on... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3340552/chinas-next-generation-warships-will-be-propelled-powerful-50mw-gas-turbine?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3340552/chinas-next-generation-warships-will-be-propelled-powerful-50mw-gas-turbine?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 20 Jan 2026 10:00:12 +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 Liu Zhen,Alcott Wei Liu Zhen,Alcott Wei China’s newest aircraft carrier, the Fujian, has significant design flaws that future carriers can overcome only by adopting nuclear power, according to a military magazine. The Fujian is the country’s first domestically designed aircraft carrier and was commissioned in November. With a displacement of over 80,000 tonnes, it is the world’s largest conventional warship and the first non-American ship to be equipped with advanced electromagnetic catapults. However, the most advanced US ships – the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3340320/why-china-may-need-take-nuclear-option-its-next-aircraft-carrier?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3340320/why-china-may-need-take-nuclear-option-its-next-aircraft-carrier?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 18 Jan 2026 14:00:10 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen China has warned that the “law of the jungle” must not apply in Iran amid the current wave of anti-government protests. Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke to his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, by phone on Thursday, telling him that Beijing was willing to play a “constructive role” in resolving differences through dialogue. Some observers have described the recent protests in Iran as the largest since the 1979 Islamic revolution with an estimated death toll ranging from 2,000 to... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3340052/china-warns-against-law-jungle-amid-anti-government-protests-iran?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3340052/china-warns-against-law-jungle-amid-anti-government-protests-iran?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Jan 2026 13:19:52 +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 Liu Zhen,Zhao Ziwen Liu Zhen,Zhao Ziwen The extreme precision of the US in its Venezuelan operation shows why nations must be able to execute a complex special surgical strike, according to analysts who said China had long pursued the capability but had yet to master it. In a complex joint endeavour integrating its air force, navy, intelligence agencies and space and cyber units, the US military’s elite Delta Force special mission unit completed its precision raid in Caracas – from infiltration to exfiltration – in less than three... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3339503/could-china-execute-special-forces-operation-us-precision-maduro-abduction?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3339503/could-china-execute-special-forces-operation-us-precision-maduro-abduction?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 11 Jan 2026 14:00:11 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen Taiwan’s asymmetric warfare plan – also known as the “porcupine” strategy – could pose a significant threat to a PLA campaign against the island, a mainland Chinese military magazine has warned. But the People’s Liberation Army could counter that strategy with an American-style “decapitation” strike, according to the article in the November issue of Naval and Merchant Ships. It analysed how the porcupine strategy played out in Taiwan’s annual military exercise in July – known as Han Kuang –... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3339381/how-pla-could-use-decapitation-strike-counter-taiwans-porcupine-strategy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3339381/how-pla-could-use-decapitation-strike-counter-taiwans-porcupine-strategy?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Jan 2026 22:00:16 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen China’s new high-power microwave system to counter drones has a longer range than its US military equivalent, according to its developer. The truck-mounted Hurricane 3000 was showcased during China’s huge military parade in September. This week its developer – state-owned defence contractor Norinco – disclosed some details of the weapon system for the first time. “Its effective interception range exceeds 3km [1.86 miles] against light and small [unmanned aerial vehicles] and drone swarms,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3338877/chinas-powerful-new-microwave-weapon-system-can-destroy-drone-swarms-within-3km?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3338877/chinas-powerful-new-microwave-weapon-system-can-destroy-drone-swarms-within-3km?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 07 Jan 2026 02:00:11 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen China’s first fixed-wing carrier-based early-warning aircraft may have sacrificed aerial refuelling to be able to operate from both ski-jump and catapult-equipped vessels, according to a Chinese military magazine. The KJ-600 airborne early warning and control aircraft was designed for catapult-launched operations and made its debut at the Victory Day parade in early September, flying over Beijing’s Tiananmen Square. Later that month, video was released of its take-off and landing via... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3338507/what-if-chinas-kj-600-aircraft-could-serve-older-carriers-well-fujian?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3338507/what-if-chinas-kj-600-aircraft-could-serve-older-carriers-well-fujian?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 03 Jan 2026 14:00:12 +0000