https://www.scmp.com/rss/325175/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 Alcott Wei Alcott Wei The Chinese military aired footage over the weekend of YJ-20 hypersonic anti-ship missile launches, as joint US-Philippines-Japan drills heighten tensions in the disputed South China Sea. China Military Bugle, a social media account run by the People’s Liberation Army, posted a video on Sunday of the PLA Navy conducting strike tests at sea, including multiple YJ-20 launches. The post did not specify when and where the missiles were fired. However, the footage was released two days after Beijing... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3351593/pla-showcases-yj-20-hypersonic-missiles-balikatan-drills-heat-south-china-sea?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3351593/pla-showcases-yj-20-hypersonic-missiles-balikatan-drills-heat-south-china-sea?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 11:13:09 +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 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 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 Neil Denslow Neil Denslow This year’s ‘two sessions’, China’s biggest annual political gathering, featured the announcement of the lowest GDP growth target in decades and official approval for the 15th five-year plan. SCMP Plus hosted a webinar to discuss these developments with three experts from the Asia Society Policy Institute’s Center for China Analysis. Other topics included the upcoming US-China presidential summit, President Xi Jinping’s purge of the military and efforts to reshape the economy. The panel... https://www.scmp.com/plus/economy/article/3346449/two-sessions-webinar?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/economy/article/3346449/two-sessions-webinar?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Mar 2026 05:18:50 +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 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 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 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 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 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 Alcott Wei Alcott Wei China has removed three senior defence industry executives, including a nuclear weapons expert, from the national legislature as part of a deepening anti-corruption campaign. The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress on Wednesday said it had expelled Liu Cangli, former president of the China Academy of Engineering Physics, Luo Qi, chief engineer of the China National Nuclear Corporation, and Zhou Xinmin, former chairman of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China. It did not say... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3342411/china-expels-defence-industry-officials-legislature-amid-corruption-crackdown?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3342411/china-expels-defence-industry-officials-legislature-amid-corruption-crackdown?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Feb 2026 13:49:39 +0000 Haining Gao Haining Gao – https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/military/article/3342176/power-and-politics-chinas-military?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/military/article/3342176/power-and-politics-chinas-military?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Feb 2026 03:10:31 +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 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 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 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 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 Holly Chik Holly Chik China is set to supercharge the advanced J-20 stealth fighter with avionics upgrades to its radar, engines and AI integration to cement the fifth-generation jet’s pivotal position in aerial warfare, a military analyst told state media. The Mighty Dragon, China’s answer to the American F-22 Raptor, was also effectively operating alongside the country’s stealth attack drone and early warning aircraft, military commentator Zhang Xuefeng told state broadcaster CCTV in a programme on Saturday. Sunday... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3339481/china-set-supercharge-fifth-gen-j-20-stealth-fighter-radar-engine-and-ai-upgrades?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3339481/china-set-supercharge-fifth-gen-j-20-stealth-fighter-radar-engine-and-ai-upgrades?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 11 Jan 2026 10:00:16 +0000 Wenran Jiang Wenran Jiang For China’s leadership, the most urgent lesson of modern military power comes not from a foreign manual but from its own history books. Its catastrophic defeat by Japan in 1895, born of internal corruption, forms the invisible backdrop to every Chinese showcase of modern hardware. The recent live-fire drill around Taiwan code-named Justice Mission 2025 – a forceful display of Beijing’s resolve to achieve reunification and deter any challenge to its core interests – was no exception. To Beijing,... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3338815/how-chinas-history-links-military-strength-fighting-corruption?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3338815/how-chinas-history-links-military-strength-fighting-corruption?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Jan 2026 01:30:11 +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 Amber Wang Amber Wang The US capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro will be closely studied by Beijing, which has signalled its ability to target Taiwan’s leadership in the latest PLA exercises near the island, according to analysts. The operation – carried out on Saturday by the US Army’s elite Delta Force, the military’s top special missions unit – was described by Chinese analysts as a “textbook” strike with high precision and minimal casualties. “The planning and execution were highly refined,” said Fu... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3338686/will-beijing-look-us-capture-venezuelas-maduro-lessons-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3338686/will-beijing-look-us-capture-venezuelas-maduro-lessons-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 04 Jan 2026 13:01:40 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen Pictures have emerged in China that appear to show a truck-mounted electromagnetic catapult system for large drones on a cargo ship apparently converted for military use, triggering speculation on social media platforms. Some images circulating online since the weekend show three linked eight-wheeled low-loader trucks in a line with a large combat drone mounted on a shuttle-like fixture at the rear. The configuration appears to form a ground-based launch track with visible details suggesting an... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3338331/chinas-truck-mounted-catapult-system-enabling-merchant-aircraft-carriers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3338331/chinas-truck-mounted-catapult-system-enabling-merchant-aircraft-carriers?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 01 Jan 2026 04:00:10 +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 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang The Chinese military is pushing for stricter rules on equipment purchases, including its pricing system, to stem corruption. According to a set of “professional ethics” released on Friday, the Central Military Commission’s (CMC) Equipment Development Department should foster “professional values in the new era”, with quality the top priority in equipment procurement. The department should serve the People’s Liberation Army with “integrity and clean practice”, the official PLA Daily quoted the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3337046/chinese-military-tightens-review-equipment-and-weapons-pricing-fight-corruption?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3337046/chinese-military-tightens-review-equipment-and-weapons-pricing-fight-corruption?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 19 Dec 2025 10:00:14 +0000 Amber Wang Amber Wang The People’s Liberation Army has made a rare public appeal for tip-offs about procurement problems in its air force, as Beijing presses ahead with its anti-corruption campaign in the military. The announcement was posted on Monday on the PLA’s official procurement website – the main bid information platform for suppliers – seeking information about “irregular” procurement activities organised by air force units. It is the first time such a request has been made about a specific branch of the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3336804/chinas-military-calls-tip-offs-it-targets-corruption-air-force-procurement?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3336804/chinas-military-calls-tip-offs-it-targets-corruption-air-force-procurement?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Dec 2025 02:00:09 +0000 Sylvie Zhuang Sylvie Zhuang It has been a turbulent year for the fraught US-China relationship. In the third part of a series looking back at the events of 2025, we examine China’s growing military might and how it’s narrowing the tech gap with the US. US defence chief Pete Hegseth told a conference in Washington this month that America would maintain a “clear-eyed appreciation” of China’s “rapid, formidable and holistic” military build-up. That build-up is being watched globally, with defence experts in recent years... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3336735/why-chinas-rapid-military-build-hardly-whole-story?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3336735/why-chinas-rapid-military-build-hardly-whole-story?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 Dec 2025 22:00:09 +0000 William Zheng William Zheng The mainland Chinese military’s Eastern Theatre Command, the corruption-hit division that oversees Taiwan, appears to be headed by two recent additions to the command. The appointments will enable the command to maintain continuity of operations despite the corruption cases among its leadership, according to an analyst. PLA Air Force Lieutenant General Yang Zhibin, 62, and Lieutenant General Zhang Jichun, 57, stood alongside other senior officials at mainland China’s annual commemoration of the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3336778/pla-division-overseeing-taiwan-sees-newcomers-charge?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3336778/pla-division-overseeing-taiwan-sees-newcomers-charge?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 Dec 2025 09:49:35 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen One of China’s newest main battle tanks, the Type 99B, is an upgraded model designed to perform better in high-altitude and cold weather operations, according to state media – suggesting it could be sent to the Himalayan border with India. The tank is the latest of the Type 99 armoured vehicles and was among the military hardware unveiled during China’s huge Victory Day parade in Beijing in September. State broadcaster CCTV reported on Thursday that the upgraded model has a raft of new features.... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3336467/chinese-main-battle-tank-upgraded-high-altitudes-could-be-sent-border-india?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3336467/chinese-main-battle-tank-upgraded-high-altitudes-could-be-sent-border-india?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 15 Dec 2025 12:00:30 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi Rising tensions in the Middle East despite the fragile ceasefire agreement in Gaza are continuing to fuel demands for arms in a region where China has emerged as a major supplier. As well as supplying drones and missiles, China is looking to expand its offering into advanced weapons systems, such as fighter jets, but is facing increasing competition from a near neighbour: South Korea. While both have opportunities to expand arms exports, analysts said South Korea was relatively better positioned... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3336039/why-south-korea-poses-major-challenge-chinas-middle-east-arms-sales-drive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3336039/why-south-korea-poses-major-challenge-chinas-middle-east-arms-sales-drive?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Dec 2025 22:00:19 +0000 Alcott Wei Alcott Wei China’s unmanned reconnaissance and strike helicopter tailored for deployment in plateau areas is ready for critical combat testing. The new multipurpose medium-sized helicopter was displayed on November 27 at an air show in Zhuhai, in southern China, where the next stage of testing was announced by its developer. The Moyujian was exhibited at the second Asia General Aviation Exhibition (Aero Asia), held from November 27 to 30. Aero Asia, jointly organised by the German General Aviation... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3335223/chinas-unmanned-moyujian-strike-helicopter-ready-plateau-combat-tests?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3335223/chinas-unmanned-moyujian-strike-helicopter-ready-plateau-combat-tests?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Dec 2025 02:00:39 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen When a full-scale model of the world’s first independent submarine hunter drone was unveiled at the Dubai Airshow last month, it offered a glimpse of the latest in a series of advances in China’s development of a modern integrated anti-submarine system. The Wing Loong-X export variant unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has anti-submarine capabilities that are reportedly superior in some respects to the United States Navy’s Boeing P-8 Poseidon and other manned aircraft. The full-scale model drone’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3335086/chinas-rapid-progress-anti-submarine-drones-adding-concerns-japan-us?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3335086/chinas-rapid-progress-anti-submarine-drones-adding-concerns-japan-us?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Dec 2025 15:00:10 +0000 William Zheng William Zheng The Chinese military has laid out new rules to strengthen political discipline and party loyalty, vowing to eradicate “erroneous political views and inappropriate remarks” and “fake combat capabilities”. The revisions to the supplementary rules to the implementation of the Communist Party’s disciplinary regulations will come into effect on January 1, 2026, and are part of an ongoing crackdown on corruption that has led to the downfall of several top generals in recent months. On Monday, PLA... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3334947/chinese-military-issues-new-rules-prioritise-strict-political-discipline?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3334947/chinese-military-issues-new-rules-prioritise-strict-political-discipline?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Dec 2025 04:00:10 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi Despite a sharp and record-breaking rise in overall global arms sales last year, the combined revenue of the eight Chinese firms listed in the weapons industry’s Top 100 fell drastically, a Swedish think tank has found. The 10 per cent fall to US$88.3 billion was also the biggest aggregated percentage drop among the countries with companies in the list, released on Monday by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). The performance of the Chinese weapons giants was in stark... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3334509/chinas-scandal-hit-weapons-firms-drag-down-regional-sales-record-breaking-year?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3334509/chinas-scandal-hit-weapons-firms-drag-down-regional-sales-record-breaking-year?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 30 Nov 2025 23:01:08 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen The People’s Liberation Army’s long-range rocket launchers can hit moving targets at sea during island seizure operations, according to mainland Chinese state media. In a report on Thursday, state broadcaster CCTV gave the first official confirmation that the PLA’s PHL-03 land-based rocket launchers could be a threat to moving surface vessels more than 100km (62 miles) away, indicating potential use against ships. Previously, the launchers were thought to only pose a threat to land... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3334607/could-pla-use-long-range-rockets-against-ships-attack-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3334607/could-pla-use-long-range-rockets-against-ships-attack-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 29 Nov 2025 13:00:10 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Opposition critics have accused Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te of stoking fear on the island with his suggestion that Beijing could be preparing to take Taiwan by force by 2027. They also said that Lai’s attempt to justify a massive increase in defence spending was nudging Taiwan towards a wartime footing without consensus or clarity. The controversy erupted after Lai told a press conference on Wednesday that Beijing was pursuing a goal to “complete unification with Taiwan by force by... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3334398/taiwans-william-lai-accused-stoking-fear-2027-countdown-confusion-and-defence-push?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3334398/taiwans-william-lai-accused-stoking-fear-2027-countdown-confusion-and-defence-push?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 27 Nov 2025 22:00:11 +0000 Sylvie Zhuang Sylvie Zhuang China will not seek a nuclear arms race and opposes the United States’ deployment of offensive missiles in Asia, according to Beijing’s latest white paper on nuclear policy. The paper – titled “China’s Arms Control, Disarmament and Non-Proliferation in the New Era” – updates the previous 2005 version of the document. In the white paper released on Thursday, Beijing said it had consistently kept its nuclear forces at the minimum level required for national security. Beijing has long underscored... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3334403/china-has-minimal-nuclear-arsenal-seeks-no-arms-race-us-white-paper?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3334403/china-has-minimal-nuclear-arsenal-seeks-no-arms-race-us-white-paper?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 27 Nov 2025 14:00:11 +0000 Dan Plesch,Manuel Galileo Dan Plesch,Manuel Galileo In nuclear war, the long-held assumption of mutual assured destruction no longer exists. Welcome to the age of permanent strategic instability, where superpowers mix fast and accurate nuclear and non-nuclear missiles in the same arsenal. The risk of war is greater than many realise. The scale of catastrophe is also significant. A potential nuclear winter is estimated to amount to billions of deaths from starvation after years of global crop failures. Such risks and consequences are disastrously... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3334240/why-advances-conventional-weapons-tech-should-worry-china-russia-and-us?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3334240/why-advances-conventional-weapons-tech-should-worry-china-russia-and-us?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 27 Nov 2025 12:30:15 +0000 Amber Wang,Phoebe Zhang Amber Wang,Phoebe Zhang Escalating global conflicts could create opportunities for China’s private defence companies as customers, both at home and abroad, seek affordable and reliable military equipment, according to industry insiders. “The international landscape is highly favourable for our private enterprises’ participation in the defence industry,” said Li Yi, a researcher with Beihang University’s Shenzhen Research Institute. Li made the comments on Monday at a military exhibition in the southern city of... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3334124/chinas-private-defence-companies-see-opportunities-amid-growing-global-conflicts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3334124/chinas-private-defence-companies-see-opportunities-amid-growing-global-conflicts?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 26 Nov 2025 02:00:09 +0000 William Zheng William Zheng China’s military has eased stringent physical requirements for pilots, based on the improved cockpits of the People’s Liberation Army’s newest warplanes. Changes to height, weight and limb length requirements are among several revisions made to the physical selection criteria for pilots, military mouthpiece PLA Daily reported on Monday. The report did not include the full revised set of criteria but said the changes had taken into account factors such as aircraft upgrades, advances in medical... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3333775/chinas-military-eases-physical-requirements-pilots-based-new-cockpits?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3333775/chinas-military-eases-physical-requirements-pilots-based-new-cockpits?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 22 Nov 2025 10:00:12 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi An angular F-35 fighter jet penetrates the bright blue sky over a dusty desert, its engines roaring as it goes through a series of high-speed, gravity-defying turns and high-G manoeuvres before disappearing over the horizon. About an hour later, another aircraft appears, this time a Russian Su-57 with a blended-wing design and slightly deeper engine noise that also displays its aerobatics and speed, showcasing its supersonic cruising ability before returning to the runway. These two flights on... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3333538/china-us-russia-rivalry-middle-east-stealth-fighter-sales-show-dubai?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3333538/china-us-russia-rivalry-middle-east-stealth-fighter-sales-show-dubai?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 20 Nov 2025 12:00:18 +0000 Cui Jianchun Cui Jianchun The most important outcome of the Communist Party of China’s fourth plenum, held last month in Beijing, was the review and adoption of the “Recommendations of the CPC Central Committee on Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development”. Leading the drafting team in person, Communist Party General Secretary and Chinese President Xi Jinping played a decisive role in formulating the recommendations by setting the overall vision and providing guidance throughout the... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3332731/15th-five-year-plan-charts-course-chinas-modernisation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3332731/15th-five-year-plan-charts-course-chinas-modernisation?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 17 Nov 2025 12:30:09 +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 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 China’s first drone-carrying Type 076 amphibious assault ship, the Sichuan, began sea trials on Friday, according to state news agency Xinhua. The ship, launched in December last year, is seen as a key asset for the PLA Navy’s unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operations because of its electromagnetic catapult launch system and is often described as the world’s first drone carrier. The sea trial will test the reliability and stability of the engine and power system, Xinhua said. Named after the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3332717/chinas-first-076-drone-carrier-amphibious-assault-ship-sichuan-starts-sea-trials?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3332717/chinas-first-076-drone-carrier-amphibious-assault-ship-sichuan-starts-sea-trials?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 14 Nov 2025 01:09:06 +0000