https://www.scmp.com/rss/328476/feed The latest military news, insights and analysis from China. en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Albee Zhang Albee Zhang Chinese state media showcased several Dongfeng-series missiles on Thursday to mark a key anniversary, including the nuclear-capable DF-61 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) and the rarely seen DF-100 long-range supersonic cruise missile. The coverage coincided with social media reports suggesting that the PLA Rocket Force might have conducted an inland ICBM test, potentially involving a ground-based mid-course missile interception, although neither activity has been officially... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3373567/china-puts-df-missiles-display-flight-bans-fuel-speculation-about-icbm-test https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3373567/china-puts-df-missiles-display-flight-bans-fuel-speculation-about-icbm-test Fri, 06 Nov 2026 10:18:32 +0000 Gabriel Dominguez Gabriel Dominguez The US military has expanded its cybersecurity presence in Hawaii and set up a regional centre to better detect threats and disruptions to its Pacific communications networks. The new initiatives come amid US accusations of Chinese cyber operations targeting critical infrastructure, including on Guam, and concerns about the security of undersea cables linking the Pacific to the US mainland. Neither initiative has been explicitly linked to China. Brigadier General Michael Smith, US Pacific... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3373508/us-military-expands-pacific-cyber-hub-counter-risks-undersea-cable-networks https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3373508/us-military-expands-pacific-cyber-hub-counter-risks-undersea-cable-networks Fri, 06 Nov 2026 06:00:34 +0000 Alcott Wei Alcott Wei Beijing has hinted at the new leadership line-up in its military theatre commands, with fresh faces emerging during last week’s party conclave in the seating area reserved for key commanders, filling vacancies left by China’s anti-corruption drive. The fifth plenum of the Communist Party’s 20th Central Committee, which concluded last Thursday, focused on party discipline and political loyalty, confirming the expulsion of 33 full and alternate Central Committee members, including 16 senior... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3373437/chinas-new-pla-theatre-chiefs-identified-anti-corruption-drive-clears-ranks https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3373437/chinas-new-pla-theatre-chiefs-identified-anti-corruption-drive-clears-ranks Fri, 06 Nov 2026 01:00:08 +0000 William Zheng William Zheng A former commander of China’s paramilitary force has been stripped of his senior political advisory roles, becoming the third consecutive head of the People’s Armed Police to fall from grace over the past 15 years. General Wang Ning, 71, was formally removed as a standing committee member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and vice-chairman of its foreign affairs committee on Wednesday. The top political advisory body revoked his membership during its closing... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3373352/ex-armed-police-chief-wang-ning-ousted-chinas-top-advisory-body https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3373352/ex-armed-police-chief-wang-ning-ousted-chinas-top-advisory-body Thu, 05 Nov 2026 06:10:19 +0000 Gabriel Dominguez Gabriel Dominguez China could face a substantially more capable Japanese military over the coming years as Tokyo considers nearly doubling its five-year defence spending to as much as 80 trillion yen (US$508 billion), according to media reports in Japan. Observers said such a build-up could strengthen Japan’s ability to deter or respond to People’s Liberation Army operations around Taiwan and the East China Sea, as well as withstand attacks and sustain prolonged operations in a regional conflict. The reported... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3373139/whats-message-china-japan-weighs-us500-billion-defence-surge https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3373139/whats-message-china-japan-weighs-us500-billion-defence-surge Wed, 04 Nov 2026 23:00:10 +0000 Amber Wang Amber Wang Taiwan expressed concern on Tuesday over more than 100 People’s Liberation Army naval vessels and mainland Chinese coastguard ships sailing across the western Pacific, including the Liaoning strike group conducting drills in the Philippine Sea. The maritime deployment overlapped with a sharp spike in PLA aerial activity near the island. Taiwan’s defence ministry reported 49 sorties of PLA aircraft in the 24 hours to 6am on Tuesday, marking the highest single-day total this year. The number... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3373249/taiwan-flags-massive-pla-naval-mobilisation-spike-air-sorties https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3373249/taiwan-flags-massive-pla-naval-mobilisation-spike-air-sorties Wed, 04 Nov 2026 08:26:37 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen Amid continuously escalating tensions, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday accused a handful of Philippine politicians of “egregious, irrational and intolerable” conduct, urging Manila to rein in their anti-China rhetoric, state media reported. Wang made the remarks during a phone conversation with Philippine Foreign Minister Theresa Lazaro, as China-Philippines relations were currently facing what he described as “malicious interference”, according to Xinhua. “Some Philippine... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3373185/china-accuses-philippine-politicians-intolerable-conduct-tensions-escalate https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3373185/china-accuses-philippine-politicians-intolerable-conduct-tensions-escalate Tue, 03 Nov 2026 18:42:37 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen Zhang Shengmin, China’s most senior uniformed general, met Russian Defence Minister Andrey Belousov in Beijing on Tuesday in his first publicly reported meeting with a foreign official since he became a member of the Politburo. Zhang, the vice-chairman of China’s Central Military Commission (CMC), pledged to deepen military cooperation and strategic coordination with Russia during the meeting at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse. He was elected to the Politburo last week at a key Communist Party... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3373176/top-chinese-general-meets-russian-defence-minister-days-after-politburo-appointment https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3373176/top-chinese-general-meets-russian-defence-minister-days-after-politburo-appointment Tue, 03 Nov 2026 13:35:27 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen China appears to be testing a stealthy new trimaran at sea, according to a photograph circulating on social media, in what could be a further effort to develop unconventional naval platforms. The image first emerged on Weibo on Sunday and appears to show a vessel featuring an inverted wave-piercing bow, three-hull design and angular superstructure surfaces that could be intended to reduce its radar signature. The vessel, which is fitted with a prominent antenna mast and multiple dome-shaped... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3373134/china-tests-wave-piercing-stealth-trimaran-unconventional-naval-fleet-grows https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3373134/china-tests-wave-piercing-stealth-trimaran-unconventional-naval-fleet-grows Tue, 03 Nov 2026 12:00:12 +0000 Albee Zhang Albee Zhang A People’s Liberation Army air defence unit has for the first time intercepted two new types of missile simultaneously during a drill – including one that made a sudden change of direction, according to state television. The CCTV report on Monday said it was a rapid response operation by the ground-based Shenwei Missile Battalion – under the PLA Central Theatre Command Air Force – which is equipped with Hongqing surface-to-air missiles. It did not disclose the type of missiles intercepted or any... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3373094/chinas-hq-series-intercepts-2-new-missile-types-pla-tests-weapon-platform https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3373094/chinas-hq-series-intercepts-2-new-missile-types-pla-tests-weapon-platform Tue, 03 Nov 2026 10:00:14 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have selected seven of the most interesting and important news stories covering US-China relations from the past few weeks. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. The ‘Queen of the Chinese’ and a forgotten history on the US-Mexico border Interest in the history of the Chinese community in the Lone Star State is growing. “There’s a real resurrection in understanding the influence of the Chinese in Texas,” Linda Chew, a retired judge in the US state’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3372493/queen-chinese-drone-war-fears-cancer-drug-sale-7-us-china-relations-reads https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3372493/queen-chinese-drone-war-fears-cancer-drug-sale-7-us-china-relations-reads Mon, 02 Nov 2026 14:00:33 +0000 Amber Wang Amber Wang Pakistan’s contract to buy Chinese Z-10ME attack helicopters covers 30 airframes, according to an image circulating on Chinese social media. The image was shared by a prominent military blogger on Sunday and marks the first time a concrete number for Pakistan’s fleet of the helicopters has surfaced since Islamabad officially inducted them into service in August last year. In the post, the blogger known as Sashoujian said that on July 11 China National Aero-Technology Import and Export... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3373023/blogger-may-have-revealed-how-many-z-10me-helicopters-pakistan-bought-china https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3373023/blogger-may-have-revealed-how-many-z-10me-helicopters-pakistan-bought-china Mon, 02 Nov 2026 13:05:03 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Taiwan is tightening its military service exemption rules in a sweeping overhaul expected to halve the exemption rate and add thousands of conscripts to the armed forces each year as the island grapples with persistent manpower shortages. Under the revised standards, which took effect last week, men will generally be exempt on weight grounds only if their body mass index (BMI) exceeds 45, while the height threshold for exemption has been lowered to 144cm (4.7 feet). Rules covering hypertension... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3373011/raising-bar-taiwan-alters-draft-exemption-rules-add-thousands-armed-forces https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3373011/raising-bar-taiwan-alters-draft-exemption-rules-add-thousands-armed-forces Mon, 02 Nov 2026 12:19:44 +0000 Gabriel Dominguez Gabriel Dominguez Beijing is accelerating production of its Type 071 amphibious transport docks by expanding construction to a second shipyard, potentially strengthening its ability to move troops and military equipment across the Taiwan Strait in a conflict. The expansion comes amid long-standing United States assessments that Beijing lacks enough landing ships and logistical support for a large-scale assault on Taiwan, suggesting the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) may be moving to address a significant... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3373001/beijing-doubles-down-type-071-amphibious-warships-signalling-taiwan-focus https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3373001/beijing-doubles-down-type-071-amphibious-warships-signalling-taiwan-focus Mon, 02 Nov 2026 10:06:23 +0000 Shi Jiangtao Shi Jiangtao Joshua Cooper Ramo is chairman and CEO of Sornay, an investment and advisory firm. Previously he was CEO of Kissinger Associates. Ramo is the author of the new book Darwin’s Lock: America, China and the Shared Future of Nations. His 2004 analysis of “the Beijing consensus” contrasted the Western and Chinese economic development models. He is the author of two New York Times bestselling books and now lives in Shanghai with his family. For other interviews in the Open Questions series, click... https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/diplomacy/article/3372921/ex-kissinger-partner-how-china-us-can-evolve-together-or-die-together https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/diplomacy/article/3372921/ex-kissinger-partner-how-china-us-can-evolve-together-or-die-together Mon, 02 Nov 2026 03:05:02 +0000 Jevans Nyabiage Jevans Nyabiage For decades, China has supplied African militaries with small arms and land-based equipment such as armoured vehicles, trucks and artillery. Now, it is selling them more specialised weapons, including armed drones and electronic warfare systems. Analysts noted that China’s African arms sales were shifting qualitatively to air-defence systems, armed drones and electronic warfare gear once dominated by Russia and the West. In April, four vehicles identified by defence analysis group Janes as... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3372870/rifles-radar-china-upgrades-its-african-arms-trade-russia-and-west-retreat https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3372870/rifles-radar-china-upgrades-its-african-arms-trade-russia-and-west-retreat Sun, 01 Nov 2026 10:00:11 +0000 Albee Zhang Albee Zhang When Zhuhai hosted its inaugural air show in November 1996, the event showcased the J-8IIM fighter, a second-generation fighter equipped with Russian radar and weapons, alongside a limited line-up of home-made aircraft. Imported planes were the focus and Chinese audiences curiously studied the much more advanced foreign designs. They crowded around two Russian fourth-generation Su-27 fighters and were wowed as the jets performed their famous cobra manoeuvre, sharply braking in mid-air. At the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3372822/how-zhuhai-air-show-charted-chinas-path-catching-flying-high https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3372822/how-zhuhai-air-show-charted-chinas-path-catching-flying-high Sat, 31 Oct 2026 22:00:15 +0000 Gabriel Dominguez,Amber Wang Gabriel Dominguez,Amber Wang America’s push for 2027 combat readiness in the Indo-Pacific is raising questions over whether a year that US military officials linked to a possible People’s Liberation Army attack on Taiwan has instead become a planning benchmark. The preparations come despite a US intelligence assessment published in March that mainland Chinese leaders “do not currently plan” to attack Taiwan in 2027, “nor do they have a fixed timeline for achieving unification”. General Ronald Clark, commander of US Army... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3372829/beijings-2027-military-milestone-now-us-readiness-deadline-over-taiwan https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3372829/beijings-2027-military-milestone-now-us-readiness-deadline-over-taiwan Sat, 31 Oct 2026 12:00:09 +0000 Fan Chen Fan Chen China and America have escalated uncrewed aircraft deployments across sensitive Indo-Pacific waters, with mainland drones patrolling strategic passages near Japan while a US Marine detachment operates near disputed South China Sea islands. In recent days, Japan has detected an uptick in Chinese military aircraft operations in important waters that enable Beijing’s naval forces to transit beyond the first island chain. The activity coincided with large-scale joint military exercises between Tokyo... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3372782/china-and-us-expand-military-drone-flights-near-japan-and-south-china-sea https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3372782/china-and-us-expand-military-drone-flights-near-japan-and-south-china-sea Fri, 30 Oct 2026 13:54:47 +0000 William Zheng William Zheng Beijing is expected to gradually restore military representation in its top leadership, analysts say, as the Communist Party seeks to strike a delicate balance in its relations with the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) amid an anti-corruption drive that has hit the top ranks. They said the process was expected to be completed at next year’s 21st party congress, which will usher in a new leadership line-up for both the party and military. The party wrapped up its fifth plenum of the 20th Central... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3372773/china-poised-restore-military-presence-top-leadership-party-congress https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3372773/china-poised-restore-military-presence-top-leadership-party-congress Fri, 30 Oct 2026 12:58:56 +0000 Orange Wang Orange Wang The Chinese coastguard has carried out an exercise featuring water cannons and drones near two disputed reefs in the South China Sea to prepare for “foreign infringement”, according to state broadcaster CCTV. A China Coast Guard (CCG) flotilla “recently” conducted “comprehensive maritime law-enforcement training” in the waters around Second Thomas Shoal and Sabina Shoal, CCTV said on Friday, without specifying when these took place. The two shoals – part of the disputed Spratly Islands – are at... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3372764/beijing-drills-water-cannons-and-drones-near-disputed-south-china-sea-shoals https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3372764/beijing-drills-water-cannons-and-drones-near-disputed-south-china-sea-shoals Fri, 30 Oct 2026 11:39:56 +0000 Amber Wang Amber Wang China has successfully launched and landed a GJ-21 drone from its first Type 076 amphibious assault ship, state media said on Friday. The Sichuan conducted consecutive sea trials late this month, according to state broadcaster CCTV, which did not disclose the location. “The [People’s Liberation Army’s] first shipborne reconnaissance-strike stealth drone, the GJ-21, has successfully completed its maiden take-off and landing on the amphibious assault ship Sichuan,” the report said. “It represents... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3372726/china-carries-out-gj-21-drone-take-landing-first-type-076-warship-state-media https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3372726/china-carries-out-gj-21-drone-take-landing-first-type-076-warship-state-media Fri, 30 Oct 2026 09:03:23 +0000 Raymond Ma,Neil Denslow Raymond Ma,Neil Denslow Chinese President Xi Jinping renewed a years-long anti-corruption drive at a major Communist Party meeting, while the general who led a military anti-graft purge was promoted to the Politburo. The party must “ensure that officials do not have the audacity, opportunity, or desire to commit corruption”, read a communique passed at the fifth plenum of the party’s Central Committee. The document also highlighted “unwritten rules” as a key issue to address. Zhang Shengmin, Xi’s vice-chairman on the... https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/politics/article/3372719/politburo-promotion-lula-victory-us-midterm-elections https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/politics/article/3372719/politburo-promotion-lula-victory-us-midterm-elections Fri, 30 Oct 2026 09:00:31 +0000 Alcott Wei Alcott Wei Beijing has provided new details on the scale of its anti-corruption drive across the People’s Liberation Army and defence industry, confirming that a fresh batch of senior figures is under formal investigation. They include top generals who once oversaw theatre commands, heads of the powerful Central Military Commission (CMC) General Office and executives in key defence companies. The names were included in a communique released on Thursday at the close of the fifth plenum of the Communist... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3372704/china-widens-pla-anti-graft-campaign-expelling-corporate-chiefs-16-generals-party https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3372704/china-widens-pla-anti-graft-campaign-expelling-corporate-chiefs-16-generals-party Fri, 30 Oct 2026 08:00:11 +0000 Albee Zhang Albee Zhang The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is distributing second-hand briefcases, salvaging screws and steel bars, and reusing holiday decorations to keep costs down as part of a thrift campaign emphasising growth through frugality. It forms part of a broader cost-cutting effort in the Chinese military under Beijing’s 15th five-year plan covering 2026 to 2030, which calls for building the armed forces through “diligence and thrift” and pursuing a path of “high efficiency, low cost and... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3372552/inside-plas-new-austerity-drive-lean-mean-printing-both-sides-machine https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3372552/inside-plas-new-austerity-drive-lean-mean-printing-both-sides-machine Fri, 30 Oct 2026 01:00:11 +0000 Gabriel Dominguez Gabriel Dominguez China’s fourth aircraft carrier, widely believed to be the country’s first with a nuclear-powered system, could launch as early as next year, according to US researchers, as Beijing pursues a fleet capable of projecting naval and air power far beyond its shores. A launch in 2027 would coincide with the centenary of the People’s Liberation Army, with the anniversary falling on August 1. Beijing has previously used major military anniversaries to showcase developments in its armed forces. The... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3372578/new-images-suggest-chinas-fourth-aircraft-carrier-could-launch-2027-analysts-say https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3372578/new-images-suggest-chinas-fourth-aircraft-carrier-could-launch-2027-analysts-say Thu, 29 Oct 2026 13:00:09 +0000 Amber Wang Amber Wang China has accused the Philippines of setting up “numerous obstacles” to attending a meeting with defence ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and of violating “basic diplomatic protocols”. The row, which follows years of tension over the two countries’ competing claims to the South China Sea, saw Beijing sending its defence attache to the meeting in the Philippines – the lowest-ranking Chinese representative at the event since it was first held in 2010. “The... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3372607/china-accuses-philippines-setting-obstacles-attending-asean-defence-meeting https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3372607/china-accuses-philippines-setting-obstacles-attending-asean-defence-meeting Thu, 29 Oct 2026 12:02:16 +0000 William Zheng,Alcott Wei,Phoebe Zhang William Zheng,Alcott Wei,Phoebe Zhang Beijing has promoted General Zhang Shengmin, the key player in the anti-corruption campaign that has cut deep into the military’s top leadership, to its top decision-making body, the Politburo. Zhang, who was last year promoted to vice-chair of the Central Military Commission (CMC), the top command body, was the military’s anti-corruption chief from 2018 until July this year, and is the top enforcer in Beijing’s fight against corruption in the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). That drive left the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3372591/china-promotes-general-zhang-shengmin-politburo https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3372591/china-promotes-general-zhang-shengmin-politburo Thu, 29 Oct 2026 09:48:24 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen Tokyo has struck a deal to build an assembly line for advanced American air-to-air missiles, while simultaneously exploring missile testing in India and Australia, moves that further mark Japan’s shift away from its post-war pacifist defence posture. Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi announced on Wednesday that the two allies would construct a final assembly facility in Japan for the AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM). The facility’s location has not been... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3372564/japan-and-us-strike-deal-missile-assembly-tokyo-expands-long-range-arsenal https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3372564/japan-and-us-strike-deal-missile-assembly-tokyo-expands-long-range-arsenal Thu, 29 Oct 2026 07:53:28 +0000 Gabriel Dominguez Gabriel Dominguez A rare satellite image of China’s secretive spaceplane has appeared in a new US intelligence report that warned Beijing was expanding its ability to track American forces and could deploy space-based directed-energy weapons by the late 2020s. The US Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) report published on Sunday included an image of the reusable spacecraft, credited to satellite imagery firm Maxar in 2024, showing its shuttle-like design and apparent solar arrays. A spaceplane is a spacecraft... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3372459/us-warns-china-expanding-its-space-toolkit-spaceplane-and-energy-weapons https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3372459/us-warns-china-expanding-its-space-toolkit-spaceplane-and-energy-weapons Wed, 28 Oct 2026 12:01:05 +0000 Amber Wang Amber Wang The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has held defence strategy consultations with France and Germany over the past week despite mounting trade tensions between Beijing and Europe. A PLA strategy consultation delegation visited France and Germany from October 21 to 28 for the talks, according to a statement released by China’s defence ministry on Wednesday. The Chinese delegation engaged in in-depth exchanges of views with the two countries separately on bilateral and military-to-military... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3372465/chinas-military-holds-talks-france-and-germany-despite-rising-trade-tensions https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3372465/chinas-military-holds-talks-france-and-germany-despite-rising-trade-tensions Wed, 28 Oct 2026 11:43:40 +0000 Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma China said it would seek India’s help to “maintain peace and stability in the border areas” after new stand-offs in a long-disputed region threatened to undermine improved relations. “We hope that India will work with China in the same direction by jointly implementing the common understandings between the two sides,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said at a daily media briefing on Monday. China “strictly abides by the relevant agreements”, he said. Guo also said that China... https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/diplomacy/article/3372433/china-seeks-indias-help-defusing-border-tensions https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/diplomacy/article/3372433/china-seeks-indias-help-defusing-border-tensions Wed, 28 Oct 2026 09:13:41 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Taiwan’s military has vowed to remain vigilant against mainland Chinese intelligence-gathering activities after Beijing released high-resolution satellite images of the island, raising concerns about its growing surveillance capabilities. “The defence ministry will not lower its vigilance at any time regarding all such satellite imagery and related intelligence collection directed at Taiwan,” Defence Minister Wellington Koo Li-hsiung told reporters on Tuesday. “We will also take appropriate... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3372328/taiwan-vows-vigilance-beijing-releases-detailed-satellite-imagery-island-landmarks https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3372328/taiwan-vows-vigilance-beijing-releases-detailed-satellite-imagery-island-landmarks Tue, 27 Oct 2026 14:00:17 +0000 Amber Wang Amber Wang China’s Defence Minister Dong Jun will skip this week’s meeting of Southeast Asian defence chiefs and their dialogue partners in Cebu, with Beijing instead sending its defence attache in the Philippines. Dong has attended the Asean Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) for the past two years. This year’s ADMM and ADMM-Plus, scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, coincide with a major Communist Party meeting known as the fifth plenum, which is running in Beijing from Monday to... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3372323/chinas-defence-minister-dong-jun-miss-asean-defence-talks-fifth-plenum-convenes https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3372323/chinas-defence-minister-dong-jun-miss-asean-defence-talks-fifth-plenum-convenes Tue, 27 Oct 2026 12:12:28 +0000 Gabriel Dominguez Gabriel Dominguez US and Japanese forces have rehearsed coordinated anti-ship strikes and mobile missile deployments across Kyushu and Japan’s southwestern islands, testing tactics designed to challenge Beijing’s ability to control surrounding waters in a conflict over Taiwan. Now in its second week, the 11-day Keen Sword 27 exercise has tested how the allies could threaten Chinese warships from multiple directions while keeping their own forces harder to target. They have also practised repairing runways and... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3372314/us-japan-rehearse-coordinated-strikes-challenge-pla-control-waters-near-taiwan https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3372314/us-japan-rehearse-coordinated-strikes-challenge-pla-control-waters-near-taiwan Tue, 27 Oct 2026 12:00:13 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen A Chinese H-6K strategic bomber has been sighted with two new electronic warfare pods used for jamming, according to images circulating on social media, potentially indicating an expansion of the aircraft’s capabilities. The photos – which have not been independently verified – emerged on Saturday and show an H6-K in flight with the pods on two of its six pylons. They appear to be similar to the RKZ930 pods carried by China’s J-16D electronic warfare aircraft. The location and date of the photos... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3372255/chinas-h-6k-strategic-bomber-getting-powerful-jamming-capabilities https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3372255/chinas-h-6k-strategic-bomber-getting-powerful-jamming-capabilities Tue, 27 Oct 2026 08:28:59 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Taiwan is developing an AI-powered system to coordinate drone fleets for maritime surveillance and countering “grey-zone” activities, with researchers completing a simulation involving 20 aircraft, according to the island’s Ocean Affairs Council. The system, which is funded by the council, would allow different types of drones to autonomously divide tasks, plan routes and coordinate their movements while providing wide-area, persistent surveillance for coastguard operations. The council said on... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3372189/taiwan-looks-autonomous-swarms-counter-beijings-grey-zone-pressure https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3372189/taiwan-looks-autonomous-swarms-counter-beijings-grey-zone-pressure Tue, 27 Oct 2026 01:00:10 +0000 Amber Wang Amber Wang China has released footage of its troops carrying out a “no-notice” rocket launch as part of an ongoing effort by state media to showcase the People’s Liberation Army’s rapid-response capabilities. State broadcaster CCTV on Monday released a brief video showing the exercise in mountainous terrain and said it had been carried out with no advance notice given to the troops involved. No other details were provided. The footage – which is believed to show a missile from the Dongfeng (“East Wind”)... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3372206/what-message-china-sending-latest-footage-no-notice-df-rocket-drill https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3372206/what-message-china-sending-latest-footage-no-notice-df-rocket-drill Tue, 27 Oct 2026 00:00:19 +0000 Gabriel Dominguez Gabriel Dominguez China may have begun limited production of its next-generation KJ-3000 airborne early warning aircraft, with satellite imagery suggesting that three possible production examples were already parked at a factory as early as April, according to an imagery analyst. If brought into service, the aircraft could help the People’s Liberation Army to detect threats, track targets and coordinate air operations across the western Pacific, including during a potential conflict over Taiwan involving US and... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3372193/chinas-next-generation-kj-3000-radar-planes-may-have-quietly-entered-production https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3372193/chinas-next-generation-kj-3000-radar-planes-may-have-quietly-entered-production Mon, 26 Oct 2026 13:00:11 +0000 Gabriel Dominguez Gabriel Dominguez With China flexing its naval power across the Pacific and bilateral tensions running high, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is weighing a move long viewed as taboo – nuclear-powered submarines for the Maritime Self-Defence Force fleet. “We will seriously consider [the possibility] in a concrete and realistic manner,” Takaichi told the Japanese parliament on October 14. Yet with Tokyo set to revise its core security documents by year’s end, the proposal is dividing the ruling coalition. The... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3372066/eye-china-japan-reopens-taboo-debate-over-nuclear-powered-submarines https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3372066/eye-china-japan-reopens-taboo-debate-over-nuclear-powered-submarines Sun, 25 Oct 2026 14:00:10 +0000 Albee Zhang Albee Zhang China’s Liaoning aircraft carrier strike group sailed beyond the first island chain last week to reach the southernmost waters of the Philippines, suggesting an intent to position itself closer to ongoing US-Japan joint exercises. Philippine news channel BNC reported that the carrier group reached about 25 nautical miles (46km) east-southeast of Balut Island, the southernmost point of the Philippines, before sailing northeast on Friday. That positioned the warships past the first island chain, a... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3372078/chinas-liaoning-aircraft-carrier-and-uss-theodore-roosevelt-converge-philippine-sea https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3372078/chinas-liaoning-aircraft-carrier-and-uss-theodore-roosevelt-converge-philippine-sea Sun, 25 Oct 2026 12:13:45 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Taiwan should not rely on a single foreign satellite provider for critical wartime communications, analysts have warned, after sudden restrictions on the use of Elon Musk’s Starlink disrupted Ukrainian drone operations. The episode has renewed debate in Taiwan over the risks of entrusting essential communications to foreign commercial operators whose services could be restricted for political, military or business reasons. Analysts said this was particularly relevant as Taipei was trying to... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3372016/ukraines-starlink-woes-should-be-wake-call-taiwan-analysts-say https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3372016/ukraines-starlink-woes-should-be-wake-call-taiwan-analysts-say Sat, 24 Oct 2026 12:00:14 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang China has unveiled a position paper on outer space governance, prioritising the prevention of space weaponisation while calling for a global framework to protect all nations’ legitimate rights beyond Earth. Addressing the inaugural Global Governance Forum near Beijing on Friday evening, Foreign Minister Wang Yi framed the document as one of eight key actions under Beijing’s Global Governance Initiative (GGI) – an overarching vision introduced by President Xi Jinping in September last year. “We... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3371975/china-warns-against-space-arms-race-urges-equal-rights-all-outer-space https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3371975/china-warns-against-space-arms-race-urges-equal-rights-all-outer-space Fri, 23 Oct 2026 14:22:26 +0000 Gabriel Dominguez Gabriel Dominguez Mainland Chinese shipyards delivered more than twice as much naval tonnage as their US counterparts in 2024 and 2025, according to a new survey, exposing a growing production gap that analysts say could weigh heavily in a prolonged conflict over Taiwan. Tonnage alone is an imperfect measure of naval power, specialists cautioned, pointing to ongoing US advantages in submarine technology, aircraft carriers and operational experience. They also highlighted China’s ability to draw on commercial... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3371951/what-beijings-two-one-shipbuilding-lead-means-us-war-over-taiwan https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3371951/what-beijings-two-one-shipbuilding-lead-means-us-war-over-taiwan Fri, 23 Oct 2026 12:00:06 +0000 Gabriel Dominguez Gabriel Dominguez Japanese universities and other educational institutions more than doubled their applications for defence ministry research funding this year to a record 291, up from 123 last year, as Tokyo moves to strengthen its defences. The increase is the clearest sign yet that academia’s decades-long resistance to military-linked work is easing. The bids accounted for more than half the record 560 applications received by the ministry this year, up from 340 last year, with the rest coming from public... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3371931/japans-university-defence-bids-surge-post-war-taboo-fades-amid-china-concerns https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3371931/japans-university-defence-bids-surge-post-war-taboo-fades-amid-china-concerns Fri, 23 Oct 2026 09:31:50 +0000 Gabriel Dominguez Gabriel Dominguez From the cockpit of an F-22 fighter to an aircraft carrier sailing in the Pacific, the US military is showing new ways to command uncrewed aircraft over vast distances. The United States disclosed two tests this month as Washington seeks to outpace Beijing in a technology contest that could redefine air and naval power in the region. Illustrating US military advances and their potential significance for a Taiwan conflict, an F-22 pilot controlled an autonomous YFQ-44A combat drone during flight,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3371799/could-us-advances-drone-command-give-it-edge-over-pla-taiwan-conflict https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3371799/could-us-advances-drone-command-give-it-edge-over-pla-taiwan-conflict Thu, 22 Oct 2026 11:00:16 +0000 Tang Meng Kit Tang Meng Kit Last month, the US published the fine print of a US$686 million upgrade deal for Pakistan’s F-16 fighter jets. The deal is for data link systems, new encryption gear and a refit that keeps the jets flying until 2040. The notice says Pakistan can protect the technology to “substantially the same degree” as the US government. The Pakistan Air Force is also the only declared interested buyer of China’s J-35 stealth fighter, a generational leap in technology. The Chinese jet first flew at the Zhuhai... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3371561/pakistan-and-us-factor-china-looks-sell-its-j-35-stealth-jets https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3371561/pakistan-and-us-factor-china-looks-sell-its-j-35-stealth-jets Wed, 21 Oct 2026 21:30:06 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen China has allowed the Philippines to resupply a grounded warship on a disputed South China Sea reef, the coastguard said on Wednesday, as tension remains high over the Chinese ambassador’s controversial comment. The Philippines delivered necessities to its warship BRP Sierra Madre grounded at the Second Thomas Shoal on Wednesday, “with permission from the Chinese side”, the China Coast Guard said in a statement. “The China Coast Guard conducted confirmation checks and maintained full supervision... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3371693/china-says-it-allowed-philippines-resupply-warship-amid-diplomatic-tensions https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3371693/china-says-it-allowed-philippines-resupply-warship-amid-diplomatic-tensions Wed, 21 Oct 2026 20:57:34 +0000 Gabriel Dominguez Gabriel Dominguez A flight-tested attack drone similar to Iran’s Shahed model that its Taiwanese maker says could reach military targets in mainland China is meant to swamp PLA air defences, analysts said. Drawing on battlefield lessons from Ukraine and the Middle East, military experts broadly agree on the utility of such low-cost systems, but differ on how the drone could be deployed in a conflict with Beijing should it enter service. While some see greater value in targeting People’s Liberation Army forces in... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3371648/taiwans-iran-style-attack-drone-could-swamp-pla-air-defences-analysts https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3371648/taiwans-iran-style-attack-drone-could-swamp-pla-air-defences-analysts Wed, 21 Oct 2026 14:00:09 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen China’s Type 051C destroyer Shenyang has been spotted undergoing sea trials after a reported refit, as the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) begins phasing out legacy warships following the commissioning of a massive wave of new vessels. Witness photographs circulating on social media appear to show the Shenyang, hull number 115 and lead ship of the Type 051C class, with its Russian-made hardware replaced by domestic air defence systems. While precise details have yet to be independently confirmed,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3371635/chinas-type-051c-gets-refit-pla-navys-legacy-warships-near-retirement https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3371635/chinas-type-051c-gets-refit-pla-navys-legacy-warships-near-retirement Wed, 21 Oct 2026 10:00:11 +0000