https://www.scmp.com/rss/324345/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Yuanyue Dang Yuanyue Dang China’s next-generation “drone-carrier” amphibious assault ship is en route to the South China Sea for critical sea trials, China’s military announced Tuesday, in the same waters where the US, the Philippines and Japan are conducting large-scale joint military exercises and the aircraft carrier Liaoning is apparently sailing to. “The Sichuan, our country’s first Type 076 amphibious assault ship, has set sail from Shanghai for relevant waters in the South China Sea to carry out scientific... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3350932/chinas-new-type-076-drone-carrier-take-part-south-china-sea-training-drills?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3350932/chinas-new-type-076-drone-carrier-take-part-south-china-sea-training-drills?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 21:09:29 +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 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 Zhao Ziwen Zhao Ziwen After two US Navy aircraft crashed into the South China Sea within 30 minutes of each other in October, analysts said there were lessons for the Chinese navy as it rapidly expands aircraft carrier operations. They said the People’s Liberation Army could learn from its rival’s strengths in search and rescue response, but also its weaknesses in maintenance and training. The US Navy said the aircraft – an MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter and an F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter jet – went down in separate... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3338480/us-navy-aircraft-crashes-offer-lessons-pla-carrier-operations-analysts-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3338480/us-navy-aircraft-crashes-offer-lessons-pla-carrier-operations-analysts-say?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 Jan 2026 09:00:10 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen China has signalled that its YJ-20 hypersonic ship-to-ship missile is ready for mass production with the release of a video showing the advanced weapon being put through its “finalisation test”. The footage of the YJ-20 being fired from the vertical launch system (VLS) of the Type 055 destroyer Wuxi was posted to social media on Sunday by China Military Bugle, the official People’s Liberation Army account. “Missile hit. Target destroyed,” the crew can be heard saying over the radio, though... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3338185/chinas-carrier-killer-hypersonic-anti-ship-missile-yj-20-final-testing-video?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3338185/chinas-carrier-killer-hypersonic-anti-ship-missile-yj-20-final-testing-video?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 30 Dec 2025 14:00:13 +0000 Alcott Wei Alcott Wei Of all the warplanes in China’s rapidly growing air arsenal, it was an older model that sent shock waves across the region earlier this month. A rare stand-off between Chinese and Japanese fighter jets took place near the Miyako Strait northeast of Taiwan. The incident brought the Shenyang J-15 carrier-based fighter jet, which has been in service for more than a decade, back into the spotlight. Japan said J-15 fighter jets, launched from the Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning, twice engaged their... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3337930/closer-look-chinas-flying-shark-j-15-jet-made-waves-near-japan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3337930/closer-look-chinas-flying-shark-j-15-jet-made-waves-near-japan?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 28 Dec 2025 15:00:09 +0000 Laura Zhou Laura Zhou Two of China’s aircraft carriers, including its biggest and best, have docked at the same naval base near the Yellow Sea, raising suggestions that another dual-carrier exercise is on the horizon. Satellite images circulating on Chinese social media this week show the Fujian, which was officially commissioned last month, docked at a naval base in Qingdao in eastern China’s Shandong province. In one of the images purportedly taken on Thursday, the Liaoning, China’s first aircraft carrier, docked... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3337173/chinas-fujian-gearing-dual-aircraft-carrier-exercise?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3337173/chinas-fujian-gearing-dual-aircraft-carrier-exercise?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 20 Dec 2025 13:00:09 +0000 Wenran Jiang Wenran Jiang Historians are likely to point to 2025 as the watershed in China’s 21st century ascent, a year in which the People’s Liberation Army’s power projection matured across all domains, resetting the global balance of power. This seismic shift is underscored by an unmistakable admission: the US has formally acknowledged the limits of its global reach in its new national security strategy and begun a strategic recalibration away from undisputed hegemony. These military and strategic realities are... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3336668/2025-marked-end-pax-americanas-unipolar-moment?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3336668/2025-marked-end-pax-americanas-unipolar-moment?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Dec 2025 21:30:07 +0000 Alcott Wei Alcott Wei The Fujian, mainland China’s newest and most advanced aircraft carrier, has made its first transit of the Taiwan Strait since its commissioning, with Taipei keeping a close eye on its movements. Taiwan’s defence ministry said on Wednesday that while the carrier, Beijing’s third, passed through the waterway, it appeared to be heading back to a Shanghai shipyard for repairs. The ministry also released a surveillance photograph of the Fujian, reportedly captured by F-16 fighter jets, showing no... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3336782/plas-fujian-aircraft-carrier-transits-taiwan-strait-taipei-watches-closely?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3336782/plas-fujian-aircraft-carrier-transits-taiwan-strait-taipei-watches-closely?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 Dec 2025 11:54:08 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang China’s Liaoning carrier strike group continued military drills in waters near Japan’s Okinawa on Sunday, Tokyo said, a day after a rare stand-off between Chinese and Japanese fighter jets in the area. The PLA Navy aircraft carrier and three guided missile destroyers were sailing northeast between Okinawa and Minami-Daito islands, and in waters around 190km (118 miles) east of Kikai Island, Japan’s defence ministry said on Sunday night. Around 50 take-offs and landings by carrier-based fighter... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3335566/japan-keeps-tabs-4-chinese-navy-ships-near-okinawa-after-military-stand?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3335566/japan-keeps-tabs-4-chinese-navy-ships-near-okinawa-after-military-stand?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 08 Dec 2025 06:00:00 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen Key scientists behind China’s latest stealth fighter and aircraft carrier have been promoted to one of the country’s top scientific academies in recognition of their contributions to advances in military technology. The honours also highlight the global lead Chinese military technology has taken in a number of areas. Wang Yongqing, the chief designer and expert of the J-35A stealth fighter; Huang Weina, the lead designer of the WS-19 engine for the J-35 series; and Lu Junyong, a key researcher... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3333823/top-honours-engineers-spotlight-chinas-gains-military-technology?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3333823/top-honours-engineers-spotlight-chinas-gains-military-technology?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 23 Nov 2025 06:00:21 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen China’s newest aircraft carrier, the Fujian, has returned to port following a training mission with its strike group, according to a state media report on Tuesday amid rising tensions with Japan. State broadcaster CCTV reported that the mission marked the “first maritime live-force training” for the world’s biggest conventionally powered warship since it was commissioned to the PLA Navy on November 5. The Fujian, China’s first domestically designed carrier and its third overall, has a... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3333289/chinas-fujian-aircraft-carrier-completes-first-training-exercise-after-entering-service?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3333289/chinas-fujian-aircraft-carrier-completes-first-training-exercise-after-entering-service?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 18 Nov 2025 12:10:37 +0000 William Zheng William Zheng Chinese aircraft carriers have undergone intensive far-sea training to forge strong combat readiness, carrying out dozens of “train-as-you-fight” drills beyond the island chains and ramping up the frequency of aircraft launches. The revelation was just one detail in a PLA Daily article last week that shed light on the training activities of China’s three aircraft carriers – a subject that the People’s Liberation Army has previously guarded closely. The details come less than two weeks after... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3333118/china-reveals-guarded-carrier-tactics-train-you-fight-drills-beyond-island-chains?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3333118/china-reveals-guarded-carrier-tactics-train-you-fight-drills-beyond-island-chains?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 17 Nov 2025 10:24:44 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang A man from southern China who donated 140 yuan (US$20) as a child to help build an aircraft carrier has seen his dream of the country becoming a stronger nation come true. To top his wish, in November, the China State Shipbuilding Corporation invited him to visit the carrier fleet and gave him a commemorative watch. Chen Yuwen, from Qinzhou city in Guangxi province, developed an early interest in the military, influenced by his father’s background as a soldier. In 1999, at just five years old,... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3332485/chinese-man-who-donated-us20-child-aircraft-carrier-project-invited-visit-26-years?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3332485/chinese-man-who-donated-us20-child-aircraft-carrier-project-invited-visit-26-years?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 17 Nov 2025 01:00:11 +0000 Sophie Wushuang Yi Sophie Wushuang Yi When President Xi Jinping commissioned the Fujian on November 5, China became only the second nation to have an aircraft carrier with an electromagnetic catapult system. It is also notable that, last month, two navy aircraft from the USS Nimitz crashed into the South China Sea. These events crystallise a strategic reality often obscured by aggregate force comparisons: the relevant naval balance is not between the 11 US aircraft carriers and China’s three, but between what the United States can... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3332517/south-china-sea-how-third-pla-navy-aircraft-carrier-changes-dynamics-us?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3332517/south-china-sea-how-third-pla-navy-aircraft-carrier-changes-dynamics-us?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 16 Nov 2025 12:30:10 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi A week after China commissioned its third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, newly leaked images, including satellite imagery and other photos, suggest that the fourth might be nuclear powered. US military website The War Zone reported on Wednesday that China’s new Type 004 aircraft carrier, which is under construction at the Dalian shipyard in the northeastern province of Liaoning, showed a hull structure apparently similar to that of American nuclear-powered supercarriers. Citing social media posts... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3332616/days-after-fujian-launch-images-suggest-china-building-first-nuclear-powered-carrier?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3332616/days-after-fujian-launch-images-suggest-china-building-first-nuclear-powered-carrier?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 13 Nov 2025 10:00:37 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen Only a select few People’s Liberation Army officers attended last week’s commissioning of the Fujian, but among them was Rear Admiral Ma Weiming – the man whose technological breakthrough put the aircraft carrier among the most advanced of its kind. Known as the father of the Chinese electromagnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS), Ma also fundamentally altered naval warfare with a string of innovations that has put China “one generation ahead” in several critical areas. There were no initial... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3332503/meet-ma-weiming-chinese-naval-engineering-genius-behind-fujian-aircraft-carrier-catapult?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3332503/meet-ma-weiming-chinese-naval-engineering-genius-behind-fujian-aircraft-carrier-catapult?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 13 Nov 2025 00:00:10 +0000 Phoebe Zhang,Sylvie Zhuang Phoebe Zhang,Sylvie Zhuang China may have started nurturing the technical knowledge needed to operate the electromagnetic launch catapult on its newly commissioned carrier the Fujian at least eight years ago, according to open records that offer a glimpse into the long-term planning involved in military universities. Footage of Wednesday’s commissioning ceremony from state broadcaster CCTV showed President Xi Jinping speaking to a landing signals officer. When he asked her what she studied, she replied “electromagnetic... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3332371/how-were-chinese-navys-talents-trained-fujian-carriers-commissioning?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3332371/how-were-chinese-navys-talents-trained-fujian-carriers-commissioning?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 11 Nov 2025 12:00:16 +0000 Alcott Wei,Sylvie Zhuang,Seong Hyeon Choi Alcott Wei,Sylvie Zhuang,Seong Hyeon Choi Now that the Chinese navy’s most advanced aircraft carrier, the Fujian, has entered service there could be a change in the power balance in the western Pacific, the South China Sea and even the Indian Ocean, according to experts. The Fujian – China’s third aircraft carrier – was commissioned last Wednesday in Sanya, Hainan province, in a grand ceremony overseen by President Xi Jinping, state media reported on Friday. It is the first Chinese warship equipped with an electromagnetic catapult... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3332242/will-chinas-new-aircraft-carrier-tilt-power-balance-western-pacific?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3332242/will-chinas-new-aircraft-carrier-tilt-power-balance-western-pacific?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 10 Nov 2025 14:00:10 +0000 Alcott Wei Alcott Wei China’s third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, is expected to achieve combat readiness sooner than the first two, and the country has the potential to produce more carriers for regular deployment on the high seas, according to state media. The reports also said China had the technology to build nuclear-powered carriers. The Fujian, the nation’s most advanced carrier and the first with electromagnetic catapults, was officially commissioned in Sanya, Hainan province, on Wednesday. It will now focus... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3332111/chinas-fujian-carrier-track-rapid-combat-readiness-will-there-be-more?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3332111/chinas-fujian-carrier-track-rapid-combat-readiness-will-there-be-more?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 09 Nov 2025 12:18:12 +0000 Haining Gao Haining Gao – https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3331912/chinas-third-aircraft-carrier-enters-service?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3331912/chinas-third-aircraft-carrier-enters-service?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 07 Nov 2025 07:58:17 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen Speculation has grown that China’s latest Type 076 amphibious warship, which will serve as a drone carrier and is capable of launching fixed-wing fighters, has begun testing its advanced electromagnetic catapult. The Sichuan, which is currently being fitted out at Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard in Shanghai, was pictured on Chinese social media with its state-of-the-art launch system pointing towards the open waters of the Yangtze River, rather than facing inward towards the dock. The photo, claimed to... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3329988/chinas-next-level-type-076-amphibious-assault-ship-being-put-through-its-paces?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3329988/chinas-next-level-type-076-amphibious-assault-ship-being-put-through-its-paces?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Oct 2025 17:11:05 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen China appears to be making progress on its fourth aircraft carrier at a shipyard in the country’s northeast, according to satellite images, another key part of the navy’s modernisation drive. Commercial satellite images posted to Chinese social media show new hull sections at the shipyard in Dalian, Liaoning where the warship – known as the Type 004 – is believed to be being built. The hull sections are visible in the satellite imagery from late September but were not seen in images from... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3328939/images-hull-sections-suggest-progress-chinas-fourth-aircraft-carrier?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3328939/images-hull-sections-suggest-progress-chinas-fourth-aircraft-carrier?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Oct 2025 10:00:19 +0000 Enoch Wong Enoch Wong China’s most advanced aircraft carrier, the Fujian, has been pictured at a naval base on the southern island of Hainan for the first time, suggesting it is a step closer to entering service. Satellite images taken on Wednesday and shared on social media showed the Fujian and the older Shandong carrier berthed side by side at Yulin Naval Base in Sanya. It was the first time the two carriers had been seen together at the same pier. Additional images indicated that four tugboats had escorted the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3327658/chinese-carriers-pictured-side-side-speculation-grows-fujian-set-enter-service?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3327658/chinese-carriers-pictured-side-side-speculation-grows-fujian-set-enter-service?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Oct 2025 12:30:12 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen China’s third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, has used its advanced electromagnetic catapults to launch all three types of fixed-wing aircraft developed for the vessel, passing another major test before commissioning. Quoting the navy, state broadcaster CCTV reported on Monday that J-15T fighters, fifth-generation J-35 stealth jets and carrier-based KJ-600 early warning and control aircraft completed catapult launch and arrest landing tests on the carrier. The J-35 is the world’s second... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3326424/landmark-launch-chinas-j-35-stealth-jet-fujian-aircraft-carrier?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3326424/landmark-launch-chinas-j-35-stealth-jet-fujian-aircraft-carrier?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 22 Sep 2025 12:42:15 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen China’s Fujian aircraft carrier, which is expected to be commissioned soon, is likely to be based in the South China Sea, according to military observers. Escorted by two destroyers, the third and most advanced carrier of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy departed from its shipbuilding yard in Shanghai last week, transited through the Taiwan Strait and entered the South China Sea. The Fujian headed to the waters for “scientific research experiments and training missions”, a “standard... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3325722/will-fujian-find-its-home-port-south-china-sea?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3325722/will-fujian-find-its-home-port-south-china-sea?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 16 Sep 2025 10:00:18 +0000 Amber Wang,Wendy Wu Amber Wang,Wendy Wu China’s third and most advanced aircraft carrier, the Fujian, has passed through the Taiwan Strait to conduct scientific research tests and training exercises in the South China Sea, the PLA Navy said on Friday. “The cross-regional tests and training are a routine mission of the carrier’s construction process and do not target any specific objects,” said navy spokesman Senior Colonel Leng Guowei, according to state news agency Xinhua. Photos and videos posted on social media showed the Fujian... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3325262/pla-aircraft-carrier-fujian-heads-south-china-sea-taiwan-strait?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3325262/pla-aircraft-carrier-fujian-heads-south-china-sea-taiwan-strait?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 12 Sep 2025 00:38:42 +0000 Enoch Wong Enoch Wong China’s third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, has left its shipyard again, according to images from Chinese social media, adding to speculation that it will soon enter military service. On Wednesday afternoon, photos and videos posted on social media platforms showed the Fujian starting its engines and emitting thick smoke before slowly departing from the Changxing Island dock at the Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai. Previously, the ship underwent three months of maintenance. State media reported... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3325228/chinas-fujian-carrier-leaves-port-adding-signs-it-will-soon-enter-service?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3325228/chinas-fujian-carrier-leaves-port-adding-signs-it-will-soon-enter-service?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Sep 2025 12:18:28 +0000 Enoch Wong Enoch Wong China’s third and most advanced aircraft carrier, the Fujian, could be officially commissioned as early as wartime anniversaries next month, a video by state broadcaster CCTV suggests. The video released on Saturday sought to draw a parallel between the Japanese naval incursions 88 years ago and the Fujian’s readiness to enter service, linking it with the memory of the Japanese invasion. China will be marking the 80th anniversary of victory over Japanese aggression with a military parade on... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3322941/chinas-fujian-carrier-may-join-service-next-month-japan-link-cctv-video-suggests?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3322941/chinas-fujian-carrier-may-join-service-next-month-japan-link-cctv-video-suggests?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 23 Aug 2025 14:43:25 +0000 Haining Gao Haining Gao – https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3319123/chinas-aircraft-carrier-ambitions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3319123/chinas-aircraft-carrier-ambitions?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 22 Jul 2025 07:53:34 +0000 Enoch Wong Enoch Wong Rare close-up images of two PLA Navy J-35 stealth fighters flying in close formation have surfaced online, giving the clearest view yet of China’s next-generation carrier-based aircraft. A military observer said the markings and flight characteristics offered the strongest evidence yet that the J-35 had entered production and was approaching operational readiness for deployment aboard China’s latest aircraft carrier. Unlike previously circulated ground-based photos, the latest images appear to... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3319049/chinas-fifth-gen-j-35-rare-close-images-suggest-stealth-jets-ready-fujian-carrier?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3319049/chinas-fifth-gen-j-35-rare-close-images-suggest-stealth-jets-ready-fujian-carrier?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 22 Jul 2025 02:00:17 +0000 Hayley Wong Hayley Wong For the first time, China has unveiled the production facilities of its fifth-generation fighters, hinting at the aircrafts’ readiness for carrier-based catapult launchers. At least two J-35 fighter jets were spotted in a hangar of its developer, Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, during an interview with Chinese state broadcaster CCTV on Tuesday. The stealth aircraft – covered in green paint – were in the background as the TV anchor introduced the J-15T, a 4.5-generation multirole fighter that can... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3317744/fifth-generation-fighters-make-cameo-appearance-china-unveils-production-facilities?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3317744/fifth-generation-fighters-make-cameo-appearance-china-unveils-production-facilities?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 10 Jul 2025 12:00:48 +0000 Enoch Wong Enoch Wong China’s first domestically built aircraft carrier, the Shandong, arrived in Hong Kong on Thursday for a five-day port call, sparking excitement and lively discussions about its name and hull number. The carrier welcomed the public aboard for the first time, with 2,000 fortunate Hong Kong residents securing tickets in less than a minute during the weekend to mark the 28th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to Chinese sovereignty. Below, the Post unpacks the stories behind vessel numbers and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3317151/whats-name-significance-why-aircraft-carrier-called-shandong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3317151/whats-name-significance-why-aircraft-carrier-called-shandong?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 06 Jul 2025 12:22:32 +0000 Oscar Liu,Enoch Wong Oscar Liu,Enoch Wong Naval officers on Chinese warships visiting Hong Kong have praised residents touring their vessels for their behaviour and warmth, while revealing that they had enjoyed some local delicacies in neighbourhood cafes and were impressed by the city’s beauty and prosperity. The officers proved to be popular photo subjects for residents enjoying a rare opportunity to sing and dance with them on the second and final day of the Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong’s public opening on Sunday. The fleet,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3317149/cool-officers-chinese-aircraft-carrier-impress-hong-kong-visitors?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3317149/cool-officers-chinese-aircraft-carrier-impress-hong-kong-visitors?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 06 Jul 2025 12:02:18 +0000 Enoch Wong Enoch Wong Crew members from the Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong have introduced the colourful roles of “deck rainbow-men” to more than 300 pupils at the PLA Stonecutters Island naval base in Hong Kong, prompting some to say a military career is inspiring. On the second day of the PLA Navy’s Shandong carrier group’s visit to Hong Kong, seven crew members explained their roles to pupils, teachers and youth uniformed groups through a lively lecture on Friday. To help coordinate hundreds of personnel on the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3317087/aircraft-carrier-rainbow-men-add-splash-colour-hong-kong-pupils-visit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3317087/aircraft-carrier-rainbow-men-add-splash-colour-hong-kong-pupils-visit?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 05 Jul 2025 09:46:31 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying,Joshua Kwok,Jiang Chuqin Lo Hoi-ying,Joshua Kwok,Jiang Chuqin The Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong has left many Hong Kong residents and visitors impressed with its contingent of fighter jets and overall military prowess, while tourism sector veterans have said they are looking at how to capitalise on “future warship visits”. China’s first domestically built aircraft carrier and other vessels in its strike group began accepting tours on Saturday morning. The tours offer the public the chance to explore designated areas of the ships, view fighter jets and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3317067/warship-shandong-wows-hong-kong-tour-groups-fighter-jets-military-displays?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3317067/warship-shandong-wows-hong-kong-tour-groups-fighter-jets-military-displays?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 05 Jul 2025 05:03:36 +0000 Enoch Wong Enoch Wong As Hong Kong celebrates the 28th anniversary of its return to Chinese rule, Beijing has once again deployed a powerful naval fleet, this time spearheaded by the aircraft carrier Shandong, highlighting both symbolic significance and strategic resolve amid escalating geopolitical tensions. China’s first domestically built aircraft carrier and its fleet arrived in Hong Kong on Thursday morning, embarking on a five-day visit, which is set to include public tours this weekend. The Shandong is... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3316967/how-china-using-shandongs-visit-hong-kong-boost-patriotism-reflect-power?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3316967/how-china-using-shandongs-visit-hong-kong-boost-patriotism-reflect-power?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 04 Jul 2025 09:02:09 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The much-awaited visit of China’s first fully domestically built aircraft carrier kicked off yesterday with a great deal of public excitement – and symbolic significance. The arrival of the mighty Shandong and its accompanying strike group is not only a showcase of the country’s military prowess and naval modernisation, but also a timely opportunity for patriotic and national security education. Unlike the Liaoning, a refitted Ukrainian vessel commissioned in 2012, the visiting carrier – named... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3316826/aircraft-carrier-visit-gives-hong-kong-national-security-education-boost?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3316826/aircraft-carrier-visit-gives-hong-kong-national-security-education-boost?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 03 Jul 2025 23:15:13 +0000 Enoch Wong Enoch Wong New details emerging about a rare Chinese military drill involving two aircraft carriers in the Western Pacific last month reveal that the vessels are training with greater intensity and complexity, according to experts. One analyst said that by testing themselves against each, the Liaoning and Shandong carriers could gain a level of experience that even the United States military could not gain in battle because it was usually engaged with far less powerful rivals. Since Monday, state... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3316817/how-are-chinese-aircraft-carriers-pushing-limits-and-testing-boundaries-pacific?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3316817/how-are-chinese-aircraft-carriers-pushing-limits-and-testing-boundaries-pacific?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 03 Jul 2025 12:00:08 +0000 Joshua Kwok Joshua Kwok Some water transport operators are cashing in on the high-profile visit of the Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong and its strike fleet to Hong Kong by ferrying visitors for a better look, although marine police have stopped their vessels from getting close. Hong Kong Water Taxi, owned by the Oriental Pearl Cruise Company, organised special sightseeing tours for visitors to get a closer look on Thursday afternoon, and demand was so strong that it was adding more trips on Friday. Another firm,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3316834/hong-kong-water-taxis-harbour-cruise-firm-cash-aircraft-carriers-visit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3316834/hong-kong-water-taxis-harbour-cruise-firm-cash-aircraft-carriers-visit?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 03 Jul 2025 11:04:49 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying,Leopold Chen,Joshua Kwok,Lorraine Chiang Lo Hoi-ying,Leopold Chen,Joshua Kwok,Lorraine Chiang Hundreds of residents and tourists lined Hong Kong's waterfronts on Thursday morning to catch a glimpse of the Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong and its accompanying strike group entering local waters. Crowds packed the esplanade at the South Horizons private residential estate in Hong Kong Island’s Southern district, with many setting up cameras to get pictures of the passing warships. The Shandong was spotted near Lamma Island at 7.17am and is the first Chinese carrier to call at Hong Kong... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3316829/marvellous-achievement-hongkongers-flock-see-chinese-warship-shandong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3316829/marvellous-achievement-hongkongers-flock-see-chinese-warship-shandong?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 03 Jul 2025 10:30:14 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi Almost a decade has passed since the People’s Liberation Army pulled the trigger on President Xi Jinping’s plans for a massive overhaul of the world’s biggest military. In the latest of a series on Chinese weapon systems, Seong Hyeon Choi looks at what China’s second aircraft carrier tells us about the PLA Navy’s blue water ambitions. The Shandong – which arrived in Hong Kong on Thursday for its inaugural five-day port call to the city – is the PLA Navy’s second aircraft carrier and its first to... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3316800/meet-chinas-first-home-grown-carrier-shandong-bridge-blue-water-future?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3316800/meet-chinas-first-home-grown-carrier-shandong-bridge-blue-water-future?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 03 Jul 2025 09:38:21 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying,Connor Mycroft,Enoch Wong Lo Hoi-ying,Connor Mycroft,Enoch Wong China’s first independently designed aircraft carrier, the Shandong, sailed into Hong Kong waters on Thursday morning, with thousands of people flocking to the coast and hilltops and even renting water taxis to welcome the vessel and three other warships to the city. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu inspected a guard of honour on the deck of the 70,000-tonne carrier, accompanied by two senior naval officers, and was given a tour of the ship in the late afternoon. He attended a welcoming ceremony... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3316813/symbolic-shandong-visit-sign-hong-kongs-rock-solid-national-security-and-pride?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3316813/symbolic-shandong-visit-sign-hong-kongs-rock-solid-national-security-and-pride?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 03 Jul 2025 08:58:37 +0000 Vivian Au Vivian Au Crowds of fans and onlookers gave an emotional welcome to the Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong and its accompanying strike group when they sailed into Hong Kong waters on Thursday for a five-day port call. Many are seeking alternatives or the best vantage points to view the fleet, as the Shandong is anchored to the west of Victoria Harbour. The other three vessels – the missile destroyers Yan’an and Zhanjiang, and the missile frigate Yuncheng hull number 571 – are moored at the PLA pier on... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3316786/land-sea-top-spots-get-glimpse-shandong-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3316786/land-sea-top-spots-get-glimpse-shandong-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 03 Jul 2025 07:23:23 +0000 SCMP Reporters SCMP Reporters This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. New users who download our updated app get a seven-day free trial. The Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong and its accompanying strike group entered Hong Kong waters on Thursday morning as part of a five-day trip, marking the first time one of the country’s fully domestically built carriers has visited the city. The 70,000-tonne warship is being escorted by... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3316718/chinese-aircraft-carrier-shandong-enters-hong-kong-waters-5-day-visit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3316718/chinese-aircraft-carrier-shandong-enters-hong-kong-waters-5-day-visit?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 02 Jul 2025 23:21:54 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen A People’s Liberation Army (PLA) landing ship has appeared unusually close to northern Taiwan, raising tensions ahead of the island’s biggest military exercise of the year. The Type 072A tank landing ship was spotted on Friday as close as 60 nautical miles (111km or 69 miles) northeast of the Taiwanese city of Keelung, a key naval base and northern maritime gateway to Taipei, Taiwan’s defence ministry confirmed on Tuesday. Chiu Chun-jung, chief of staff of Taiwan’s navy, said that the ship had... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3316700/pla-landing-ship-spotted-northern-taiwan-ahead-islands-biggest-military-drill?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3316700/pla-landing-ship-spotted-northern-taiwan-ahead-islands-biggest-military-drill?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 02 Jul 2025 14:01:46 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Hongkongers will have to make changes to their transport plans during the visit of a naval fleet led by the Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong from Thursday as certain ferry services will be temporarily suspended, with authorities also implementing restrictions in some flying zones. The Transport Department on Monday evening announced the adjustments, with nine outlying island licensed ferry service routes operating on the western fairway to be suspended gradually between about 7.20am and 9.50am... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3316470/certain-ferry-services-hong-kong-be-suspended-during-chinese-naval-fleet-visit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3316470/certain-ferry-services-hong-kong-be-suspended-during-chinese-naval-fleet-visit?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 01 Jul 2025 04:48:59 +0000 Lynn Zhang,Hayley Wong Lynn Zhang,Hayley Wong All free tickets to board the Shandong aircraft carrier during its port call to Hong Kong from July 3 to 7 have been snapped up in less than a minute across three reservation sessions on Monday. The Post found the tickets for the first batch were gone within 45 seconds after they were released on WeChat. When the second batch was released at 3pm, the reservation system showed no tickets for the Shandong remained, while those for visiting Zhanjiang and Yuncheng vessels were snapped up within 30... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3316322/first-batch-tickets-hongkongers-see-chinese-aircraft-carrier-gone-45-seconds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3316322/first-batch-tickets-hongkongers-see-chinese-aircraft-carrier-gone-45-seconds?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Jun 2025 03:37:16 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun A naval fleet led by the Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong will arrive in Hong Kong next week for a five-day visit, with open tours and cultural exchanges among events to be held to improve residents’ understanding of the development of national defence. The Ministry of National Defence announced on Saturday that the fleet, which includes the Yan’an and Zhanjiang missile destroyers, as well as the Yuncheng missile frigate, would visit from July 3 to 7 following the Central Military Commission’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3316239/chinese-aircraft-carrier-led-fleet-visit-hong-kong-5-days?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3316239/chinese-aircraft-carrier-led-fleet-visit-hong-kong-5-days?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Jun 2025 14:45:28 +0000 Holly Chik Holly Chik China’s most advanced aircraft carrier, the Fujian, is expected to be able to carry out “deck load strikes”, a type of swarm attack that could help the country’s navy gain a first-mover advantage in combat, according to state broadcaster CCTV. A deck load strike refers to the ability to rapidly launch a large number of aircraft at once. This tactic was used by the US Navy during the Vietnam war for shock effect. While military experts had speculated that the Fujian would be able to carry out... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3315336/chinas-fujian-carrier-developing-swarm-attack-ability-overwhelm-enemy-cctv?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3315336/chinas-fujian-carrier-developing-swarm-attack-ability-overwhelm-enemy-cctv?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Jun 2025 10:00:15 +0000