https://www.scmp.com/rss/519815/feed Latest news and updates on military drills involving the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), including manoeuvres near Taiwan and joint exercises with other nations. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Amber Wang Amber Wang Beijing has held naval exercises in waters east of a Philippine island near Taiwan in an apparent response to nearby annual military drills hosted by Manila and Washington. The People’s Liberation Army Southern Theatre Command said on Friday that a naval fleet had “recently” held drills in waters east of Luzon, the northernmost major island of the Philippines. The drills were “a necessary action taken in response to the current regional situation”, said the command, which oversees the South... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3351353/china-stages-navy-drill-us-and-philippines-embark-balikatan-2026?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3351353/china-stages-navy-drill-us-and-philippines-embark-balikatan-2026?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Apr 2026 12:29:21 +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 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, the military announced on 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 research... 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 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 Yuanyue Dang Yuanyue Dang US military leaders painted a picture of Chinese military threats, spanning Taiwan and space, as they briefed Congress on the military readiness for the financial year 2027 on Wednesday. The People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) “invasion rehearsals and live-fire exercises near Taiwan and around the region” had illustrated “the need for combat-ready naval forces in the Indo-Pacific”, according to James Kilby, vice chief of Naval Operations. “[The US Navy therefore] remains committed to partnering and... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3350232/china-threat-used-convince-congress-need-bolster-us-military-capabilities?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3350232/china-threat-used-convince-congress-need-bolster-us-military-capabilities?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Apr 2026 23:08:57 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen The People’s Liberation Army division responsible for the East China Sea and the Taiwan Strait carried out a decontamination exercise amid targeting of Iranian nuclear facilities by the United States and Israel. A recent training exercise at an Eastern Theatre Command naval base included an emergency response to a simulated nuclear attack, according to a report on Tuesday by state broadcaster CCTV, which did not specify the time or location of the drill. The exercise focused on rapid detection... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3349361/pla-troops-facing-taiwan-strait-and-japan-simulate-response-nuclear-attack?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3349361/pla-troops-facing-taiwan-strait-and-japan-simulate-response-nuclear-attack?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Apr 2026 11:00:08 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen The People’s Liberation Army has upgraded its ageing tanks for a potential Taiwan operation, equipping them with a system to counter drone attacks and anti-tank missiles, according to state media. Type 96A main battle tanks with the GL-6 active protection system, or APS, installed were shown in video footage released by official newspaper China Youth Daily on Monday. The tanks belong to the 71st Group Army unit under the PLA’s Eastern Theatre Command, which is mainly responsible for possible... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3348816/pla-upgrades-ageing-tanks-protection-system-potential-taiwan-operation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3348816/pla-upgrades-ageing-tanks-protection-system-potential-taiwan-operation?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 11:00:08 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen A pair of advanced destroyers kicked off an intensive and wide-ranging training exercise soon after they were assigned to the People’s Liberation Army division that oversees Taiwan and the East China Sea. The newly commissioned 12,000-tonne guided-missile destroyers, the Dongguan and Anqing, took part in their first live-fire training in mid-March, simulating high-intensity combat missions, the official PLA Daily reported on Sunday. The Type 055 “super destroyers” are the first of their kind in... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3347726/new-type-055-destroyers-pla-east-china-fleet-tested-first-live-fire-drill?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3347726/new-type-055-destroyers-pla-east-china-fleet-tested-first-live-fire-drill?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Mar 2026 10:12:05 +0000 Amber Wang Amber Wang Chinese and Vietnamese personnel will carry out a joint naval patrol and training exercise in the Gulf of Tonkin this week, extending a practice that has continued despite long-standing competing maritime claims. The joint manoeuvres will take place as part of the China-Vietnam Border Defence Friendship Exchange, which will include medical and cultural exchange events, China’s defence ministry said on Sunday. They will be conducted in waters off China’s Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region and... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3346656/joint-patrols-china-vietnam-steers-course-between-two-powers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3346656/joint-patrols-china-vietnam-steers-course-between-two-powers?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Mar 2026 11:00:12 +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 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 William Zheng William Zheng The People’s Liberation Army has been urged to overhaul English language teaching at its military schools and recruit professionals to improve soldiers’ communication skills on the international stage. Three senior lecturers from the PLA Air Force Early Warning Academy made the call in an article published in the February edition of official Military-to-Civilian in China magazine, which is administered by the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence. Li Yan,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3343799/chinese-military-urged-overhaul-english-teaching-improve-language-skills?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3343799/chinese-military-urged-overhaul-english-teaching-improve-language-skills?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Feb 2026 22:00:18 +0000 Amber Wang Amber Wang The People’s Liberation Army said it would redouble efforts to crack down on “fakery that undermines combat capability” and improve scrutiny of training and drills to tackle “deep-seated problems”. The pledge was made in an article in official newspaper PLA Daily on Tuesday outlining anti-corruption priorities for the year. It came soon after last month’s announcement that top general Zhang Youxia, first vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission, was under investigation for corruption,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3342631/chinas-military-vows-improve-scrutiny-training-after-fall-zhang-youxia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3342631/chinas-military-vows-improve-scrutiny-training-after-fall-zhang-youxia?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Feb 2026 11:00:11 +0000 Sylvie Zhuang Sylvie Zhuang State media has released rare footage of one of the PLA Navy’s most advanced destroyers warning off foreign aircraft near Taiwan with electronic jamming missiles. The footage, part of a series by Chinese state broadcaster CCTV on the country’s naval power, involved the Yanan, a Type 055 guided-missile destroyer. CCTV said it was the first time the Yanan had been shown using “electronic countermeasures” in “waters near Taiwan island” to warn off foreign aircraft. The report did not specify where... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3342000/pla-navy-warns-foreign-jets-jamming-missiles-near-taiwan-cctv?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3342000/pla-navy-warns-foreign-jets-jamming-missiles-near-taiwan-cctv?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Feb 2026 11:00:11 +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 Shi Jiangtao Shi Jiangtao China carried out naval and air patrols around Scarborough Shoal on Saturday – just days after joint US-Philippine drills nearby – underscoring tensions in the disputed South China Sea waters. The PLA Southern Theatre Command issued a statement on the “combat readiness patrols” near the shoal, which China calls Huangyan Island. They were aimed at countering “infringement and provocative actions by individual countries”, it said, in a thinly veiled reference to the United States and rival... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3341949/chinese-military-patrols-scarborough-shoal-5-days-after-us-philippine-drills-area?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3341949/chinese-military-patrols-scarborough-shoal-5-days-after-us-philippine-drills-area?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 31 Jan 2026 11:35:22 +0000 Alcott Wei,Seong Hyeon Choi Alcott Wei,Seong Hyeon Choi The first close-up image of the Chinese PL-17 long-range missile – one of the most mysterious weapons in the PLA Air Force’s arsenal – appears to have surfaced online. Analysts say the PL-17 may be the world’s longest-range air-to-air missile, posing a threat to US air superiority in the western Pacific. A photo believed to show the PL-17 has recently been making the rounds on Chinese social media. The date and location of the photo are unclear, although the angle of view is extremely close. The... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3341883/has-chinas-pl-17-missile-likely-pacific-game-changer-finally-been-seen-close?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3341883/has-chinas-pl-17-missile-likely-pacific-game-changer-finally-been-seen-close?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 30 Jan 2026 14:00:15 +0000 Liu Zhen,Zhao Ziwen Liu Zhen,Zhao Ziwen People’s Liberation Army activities in the Taiwan Strait are being closely watched by the United States and Japan and it needs to find a way to operate effectively while being surveilled, according to analysts. A report by Beijing-based defence think tank Lande said the PLA’s most recent large-scale drills around Taiwan – dubbed Justice Mission 2025 – were launched with no warning yet the response from the US and Japan was immediate. It said that highlighted the constant presence in the region... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3340431/pla-urged-find-way-operate-effectively-under-gaze-us-and-japan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3340431/pla-urged-find-way-operate-effectively-under-gaze-us-and-japan?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 19 Jan 2026 10:00:26 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang Two Western defence companies appear to have Chinese warships in their sights, with promotional videos of their weapons systems targeting vessels that look a lot like those belonging to the PLA Navy. London-based BAE Systems posted videos on social media on Wednesday for “game-changing naval weapons and launching systems” it said it was showcasing at a US defence industry conference last week. One animated video simulated a naval base under attack. The base then launches missiles from containers... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3340329/are-western-defence-firms-aiming-chinese-navy-their-promo-videos?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3340329/are-western-defence-firms-aiming-chinese-navy-their-promo-videos?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 18 Jan 2026 11:30:14 +0000 Maria Siow Maria Siow A week-long naval exercise off the South African coast involving the navies of China, Russia and the UAE has stirred debate over whether the primary purpose of Brics is evolving in the emerging post-Western global order. The exercise, held from January 9 to 16 under the banner “Will for Peace 2026”, was described by host nation South Africa as a routine maritime safety and interoperability operation. Officials said the drills aimed to improve coordination in protecting shipping routes and... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3340195/will-peace-drills-brics-tests-waters-military-cooperation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3340195/will-peace-drills-brics-tests-waters-military-cooperation?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 17 Jan 2026 04:00:08 +0000 Bochen Han Bochen Han A US spending bill approving US$300 million in cash assistance for Taiwan’s military has passed the House of Representatives and is expected to become law. On Wednesday, the House passed a two-bill government spending package that would fund the Departments of the Treasury and State through September, along with other federal agencies, bringing the total to eight of 12 annual spending bills needed by January 30, to avoid a government shutdown. The bills must now clear the Senate before they can... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3340074/us-bill-approving-us300-million-taiwans-military-passed-house?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3340074/us-bill-approving-us300-million-taiwans-military-passed-house?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Jan 2026 22:09:56 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Taiwan’s latest military crash involving an upgraded F-16 fighter jet has sparked fresh scrutiny of the readiness of the island’s ageing arsenal amid the sustained high-tempo demands of cross-strait tensions. The episode on Tuesday has sharpened debate over whether upgrades and new armament purchases can realistically keep pace with increasing wear, maintenance constraints and the rapid modernisation of mainland China’s forces, according to lawmakers and analysts. The incident involved an F-16V... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3339444/f-16-fighter-jet-crash-brings-fresh-scrutiny-taiwans-ageing-military-equipment?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3339444/f-16-fighter-jet-crash-brings-fresh-scrutiny-taiwans-ageing-military-equipment?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 10 Jan 2026 14:00:09 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen Taiwan’s asymmetric warfare plan – also known as the “porcupine” strategy – could pose a significant threat to a PLA campaign against the island, a mainland Chinese military magazine has warned. But the People’s Liberation Army could counter that strategy with an American-style “decapitation” strike, according to the article in the November issue of Naval and Merchant Ships. It analysed how the porcupine strategy played out in Taiwan’s annual military exercise in July – known as Han Kuang –... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3339381/how-pla-could-use-decapitation-strike-counter-taiwans-porcupine-strategy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3339381/how-pla-could-use-decapitation-strike-counter-taiwans-porcupine-strategy?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Jan 2026 22:00:16 +0000 Alcott Wei Alcott Wei The People’s Liberation Army has released footage of exercises countering swarms of suicide drones, a key element of Taiwan’s asymmetric defence strategy. Mainland state broadcaster CCTV showed a video on Sunday of a naval unit conducting anti-drone and uncrewed target drills as the PLA launched its 2026 training cycle. During the drills, the “blue force”, acting as the adversary, deployed multiple suicide drones to simulate ultra-low-altitude penetration strikes against maritime targets. In... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3339041/pla-drills-target-swarms-suicide-drones-taiwans-front-line-defence?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3339041/pla-drills-target-swarms-suicide-drones-taiwans-front-line-defence?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Jan 2026 14:00:11 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi As the new year unfolds, China finds itself grappling with strategic pressures fuelled by two US treaty allies at its doorstep – Japan and South Korea. In the first of a two-part series, Seong Hyeon Choi looks at how historically fraught China-Japan ties might fare as Tokyo bolsters its military posture with record budgets and advanced weaponry. Read the second part here. China and Japan have never fully resolved the decades-old grudges of their wartime history and territorial disputes, but it... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3338769/china-japan-military-tensions-what-lies-ahead-2026?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3338769/china-japan-military-tensions-what-lies-ahead-2026?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Jan 2026 01:00:29 +0000 Jevans Nyabiage Jevans Nyabiage China will lead a joint naval exercise with Brics nations in South African waters next week – the bloc’s first such defence cooperation that is likely to raise alarm bells in Washington. The South African National Defence Force on Wednesday said the exercise – dubbed Will for Peace 2026 – would bring together “navies from Brics Plus countries for an intensive programme of joint maritime safety operations, interoperability drills and maritime protection serials” from January 9 to 16. It said... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3338479/china-lead-joint-naval-drills-brics-nations-south-african-waters?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3338479/china-lead-joint-naval-drills-brics-nations-south-african-waters?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 03 Jan 2026 06:00:22 +0000 Khushboo Razdan Khushboo Razdan US President Donald Trump is meeting US Ambassador to China David Perdue at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida on Friday, rounding off a day of diplomacy that began with a call with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. The engagements come at a delicate moment for the administration as it seeks to align its “America first” regional approach amid a deepening diplomatic rift between Tokyo and Beijing over Taiwan, and following Washington’s recent approval of its largest-ever arms sale to the... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3338582/trump-meet-us-envoy-perdue-after-call-japans-takaichi-taiwan-drills-conclude?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3338582/trump-meet-us-envoy-perdue-after-call-japans-takaichi-taiwan-drills-conclude?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 Jan 2026 19:17:01 +0000 William Zheng William Zheng A video released by the People’s Liberation Army during a military drill this week has sparked debate about whether Taiwan failed to detect a J-20 stealth fighter and how close the aircraft might have come to a key military airport on the island. The video was released by the PLA’s Eastern Theatre Command on Tuesday – the second day of the “Justice Mission 2025” joint military exercises around Taiwan. The footage shows a PLA J-20 flying near an unidentified landscape that some observers say... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3338548/did-pla-stealth-fighter-approach-key-taiwan-airbase-new-video-sparks-debate?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3338548/did-pla-stealth-fighter-approach-key-taiwan-airbase-new-video-sparks-debate?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 Jan 2026 11:31:16 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen An aerial video released by Beijing during this week’s military exercise and featuring the Taipei 101 landmark in Taiwan has ignited a debate on how close PLA drones came to the heart of Taipei. The black-and-white drone footage, released by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theatre Command on Monday, shows an ascending passenger plane flying past Taipei 101, the city’s tallest skyscraper. A still image showing a panoramic view of the tower and surrounding landscape, including the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3338399/just-how-close-did-pla-drone-come-heart-taipei-during-drill?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3338399/just-how-close-did-pla-drone-come-heart-taipei-during-drill?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 01 Jan 2026 22:00:38 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier The US State Department on Thursday urged Beijing to end intimidating military moves in the area around Taiwan that it said create needless anxiety and stress. Washington’s New Year’s Day message followed a two-day live-fire exercise that Beijing wrapped up on Tuesday, dubbed Justice Mission 2025, that played out on a more extensive scale than its predecessors. “China’s military activities and rhetoric towards Taiwan and others in the region increase tensions unnecessarily,” said Tommy Pigott,... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3338442/us-urges-beijing-end-military-pressure-against-taiwan-engage-meaningful-dialogue?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3338442/us-urges-beijing-end-military-pressure-against-taiwan-engage-meaningful-dialogue?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 01 Jan 2026 21:33:03 +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 Sylvie Zhuang,Lawrence Chung Sylvie Zhuang,Lawrence Chung The latest People’s Liberation Army drills around Taiwan may have been testing how to wear down the island’s air defences using rockets that are “cheap enough to be used in large quantities”, military observers said. On Tuesday, the PLA’s Eastern Theatre Command wrapped up a two-day live-fire exercise named Justice Mission 2025. The exercise surrounded large parts of the island and came less than a fortnight after the United States approved a US$11.1 billion weapons package for Taiwan – the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3338335/was-plas-taiwan-drill-testing-inexpensive-ways-wear-down-islands-air-defence-system?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3338335/was-plas-taiwan-drill-testing-inexpensive-ways-wear-down-islands-air-defence-system?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 31 Dec 2025 14:00:09 +0000 Fan Chen Fan Chen Beijing has hit back against concerns raised by foreign countries, including Japan, over its military drills around Taiwan, accusing critics of being “extremely hypocritical”. The foreign ministry said on Wednesday that Japan, Australia and European governments had turned “a deaf ear” to the efforts of “Taiwan independence” forces using military means, while ignoring external interference in Beijing’s internal affairs. Beijing carried out massive live-fire drills and blockade exercises around... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3338265/tokyo-expresses-concern-beijing-over-military-drills-around-taiwan-report?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3338265/tokyo-expresses-concern-beijing-over-military-drills-around-taiwan-report?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 31 Dec 2025 06:16:36 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Beijing has responded proportionately nearly two weeks after the United States announced a massive arms sale to Taiwan worth more than US$11 billion. The encirclement by land, sea and air forces of the self-ruled island in a powerful two-day People’s Liberation Army (PLA) exercise, including live-fire drills, sent an unambiguous warning. The messaging explicit in the arms deal and China’s stern response is not easily reconciled with recent diplomatic efforts to improve relations between the two... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3338172/powerful-pla-drill-shows-us-arms-sales-dont-help-taiwan-strait-stability?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3338172/powerful-pla-drill-shows-us-arms-sales-dont-help-taiwan-strait-stability?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 30 Dec 2025 23:15:11 +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 Khushboo Razdan Khushboo Razdan US President Donald Trump on Monday described Beijing’s large-scale military exercises around Taiwan as routine activities that have occurred “for 20-25 years”, expressing no concern over the escalation and instead citing his personal rapport with Chinese President Xi Jinping. “I have a great relationship with President Xi, and he hasn’t told me anything about it,” Trump said in remarks to reporters during a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his Mar-a-Lago estate... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3338082/trump-not-worried-about-beijings-military-drills-around-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3338082/trump-not-worried-about-beijings-military-drills-around-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 29 Dec 2025 23:28:15 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen The Chinese military has simulated battles near Mexico and Cuba during a wargaming exercise – a rare insight revealed in a report on state television. Cuba, the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, along with the Sea of Okhotsk and Taiwan, were among the locations of conflict scenarios visible on screens in a CCTV report on Friday showing People’s Liberation Army wargaming exercises. Despite closer economic ties with countries in the region, China has a minimal military presence in Latin... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3337652/chinese-military-simulated-battles-near-mexico-cuba-and-taiwan-cctv-report-shows?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3337652/chinese-military-simulated-battles-near-mexico-cuba-and-taiwan-cctv-report-shows?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 24 Dec 2025 12:02:08 +0000 Alex Lo Alex Lo The horrors of war are so seared into the minds of people that the resultant images in their heads can bias them to picture future conflicts as being like previous ones. The more tragic and terrible the past conflicts, the stronger this bias tends to be. Hollywood films play a big part in such image-making, but some experts themselves may also be so biased, especially if they are of the older generation. When Americans say their country may be heading towards a civil war, many likely still have... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3336903/taiwan-intervention-may-just-spell-end-west?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3336903/taiwan-intervention-may-just-spell-end-west?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 20 Dec 2025 01:30:08 +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 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 Orange Wang,Zhao Ziwen Orange Wang,Zhao Ziwen The Trump administration is possibly facing a “dilemma” as tensions between China and Japan intensify, one Chinese analyst has suggested, while another noted that any breakthrough in the diplomatic dispute still hinged on direct engagement between the two Asian neighbours. This week, the downward spiral in ties between China and Japan showed no signs of easing. Beijing issued another travel warning targeting Japan on Thursday – less than four weeks after its previous advisory – this time citing... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3336106/china-japan-row-has-left-us-leader-donald-trump-facing-dilemma-analyst?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3336106/china-japan-row-has-left-us-leader-donald-trump-facing-dilemma-analyst?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Dec 2025 15:00:09 +0000 Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma Japan and the US conducted joint air force exercises on Wednesday, adding to military activity in a region beset by tensions between China and Japan. The two allies “reaffirmed their strong resolve to prevent any unilateral attempt to change the status quo by force”, Japan’s defence ministry said in a statement on Thursday, according to Reuters. The exercises also “confirmed the readiness posture” of Japan’s Self-Defence Forces and US forces, it said. Six Japanese fighters and two US bombers... https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3336051/us-joins-japan-military-exercise-amid-takaichi-china-row?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3336051/us-joins-japan-military-exercise-amid-takaichi-china-row?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Dec 2025 09:18:36 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi A joint patrol by Chinese and Russian nuclear-capable bombers near Japanese airspace is a serious national security concern, the country’s Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi has said. In a social media post on Tuesday, Koizumi wrote that two Russian Tu-95 bombers had rendezvoused with two Chinese H-6 bombers over the East China Sea. These aircraft then conducted a joint flight around Japan from the airspace between Okinawa’s main island and Miyako Island in the Ryukyu chain to the waters off... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3335910/china-russia-bomber-patrol-serious-national-security-concern-says-japanese-minister?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3335910/china-russia-bomber-patrol-serious-national-security-concern-says-japanese-minister?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 10 Dec 2025 09:36:52 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi acknowledged that China had notified Japan in advance about drills involving the aircraft carrier Liaoning that led to a stand-off between warplanes from the two countries over the weekend. However, Koizumi told a press conference on Wednesday that the notification lacked detail about the scale and location of the exercise in the Pacific southeast of Okinawa’s main island and Beijing had not provided “notices to air missions”, a warning to ships and... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3335816/china-reveals-radio-communication-heard-mid-air-standoff-japanese-fighter-jets?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3335816/china-reveals-radio-communication-heard-mid-air-standoff-japanese-fighter-jets?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Dec 2025 20:06:34 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi Military aircraft from China and Russia entered South Korea’s air defence zone without notification on Tuesday, prompting the deployment of fighter jets, the Korean military said. The nine aircraft appeared to be part of a joint patrol in the area, their first such exercise in more than 12 months. They did not violate Korean airspace, the country’s military command authority said. Hours later, the Chinese defence ministry said China and Russia had carried out their 10th joint strategic patrol in... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3335775/2-chinese-7-russian-jets-enter-south-korean-air-defence-zone-near-japan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3335775/2-chinese-7-russian-jets-enter-south-korean-air-defence-zone-near-japan?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Dec 2025 10:03:03 +0000 Zhao Ziwen Zhao Ziwen New Zealand’s largest naval vessel was followed by seven Chinese warships in a deployment to East Asia last month, including a rare transit through the Taiwan Strait, according to the Pacific nation’s military. The HMNZS Aotearoa, a Polar-class replenishment vessel, was deployed to the East China and Yellow seas with allies, the New Zealand Defence Force said in a statement on Monday. “During the operation, the ship was shadowed by seven different People’s Liberation Army (Navy) warships, which... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3335768/7-chinese-warships-followed-our-navy-vessel-its-east-asia-mission-new-zealand-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3335768/7-chinese-warships-followed-our-navy-vessel-its-east-asia-mission-new-zealand-says?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Dec 2025 09:59:04 +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 The People’s Liberation Army has carried out an urban warfare drill, according to state media, in what appears to be a response to Taipei’s bid to fund improved “asymmetric capabilities”. In a report on Wednesday, state broadcaster CCTV aired footage of troops carrying out an operation to seize a built-up area in a war-torn city. The drill – involving reconnaissance, clearing and occupation – was part of a live-fire exercise conducted by a PLA Ground Force brigade that aimed to “test multiple... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3335376/pla-holds-urban-warfare-drill-taipei-looks-boost-asymmetric-capabilities?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3335376/pla-holds-urban-warfare-drill-taipei-looks-boost-asymmetric-capabilities?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Dec 2025 14:00:10 +0000 William Zheng William Zheng China’s deployment this week of a naval fleet led by a Type 075 amphibious assault ship in the Philippine Sea has triggered a rapid response from Australia. Canberra deployed a P-8 maritime patrol aircraft to track the flotilla, reviving security concerns raised after an unprecedented circumnavigation of the Australian continent by a People’s Liberation Army (PLA) fleet nine months ago. US satellite images, first reported by Australian media on Wednesday, confirmed the presence of the Chinese... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3335362/australia-high-alert-pla-naval-flotilla-philippine-sea-sails-south?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3335362/australia-high-alert-pla-naval-flotilla-philippine-sea-sails-south?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Dec 2025 11:07:01 +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