https://www.scmp.com/rss/519816/feed Latest news and updates on the People’s Liberation Army Navy, including military drills, the development of warships and aircraft carriers, spending, reforms and modernisation. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Alcott Wei Alcott Wei PLA warships transited sensitive international waterways off southwestern Japan twice this week, a rare move seen as a clear warning to Tokyo over its recent actions relating to Taiwan. The transits marked the start and end of exercises in the western Pacific, outbound through the Yokoate Channel on Sunday and back via the Yonaguni-Iriomote Waterway on Wednesday. In a statement on Wednesday, the Eastern Theatre Command of the People’s Liberation Army said: “[We] have organised the 133rd Fleet to... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3351040/warning-over-taiwan-pla-warships-make-rare-transits-southwest-japan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3351040/warning-over-taiwan-pla-warships-make-rare-transits-southwest-japan?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 12:24:14 +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 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi The navies of China and Vietnam have added live-fire drills to future joint training – marking a deepening of military cooperation as Vietnamese Communist Party chief To Lam hailed relations with Beijing as a “top priority”. Naval commanders from both sides held a courtesy meeting on Monday at Fangcheng port in southern China’s Guangxi, as Vietnamese frigates Tran Hung Dao (hull number 015) and Ly Thai To (012) arrived to join PLA Navy vessels for their 40th joint patrol and training... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3346907/china-vietnam-agree-live-fire-drills-naval-exercise-boost?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3346907/china-vietnam-agree-live-fire-drills-naval-exercise-boost?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Mar 2026 11:24:28 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang The sole female senior officer aboard China’s Liaoning aircraft carrier has urged women to put aside their gender and focus on professionalism and responsibility. On March 7, during the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC) in Beijing, a poised and confident female military deputy in uniform captured nationwide attention. Zhu Yuemeng, 36, from a modest family in Jilin province, northeastern China, is a naval lieutenant colonel and serves as a political instructor on board the Liaoning aircraft... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3346243/china-liaoning-warships-sole-female-senior-officer-urges-fellow-women-prioritise-professional-skills?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3346243/china-liaoning-warships-sole-female-senior-officer-urges-fellow-women-prioritise-professional-skills?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Mar 2026 01:00:10 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen Beijing is expected to intensify naval operations beyond Taiwan and the first island chain, military observers say, citing the possible commissioning of Type 055 “super destroyers” into the East Sea Fleet. Photographs circulating on social media in late January showed two Type 055 guided-missile destroyers moored at a naval base in Zhoushan, located on the East China Sea coast. They had also been assigned hull numbers, 109 and 110, signalling imminent commissioning into the PLA Navy. This... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3345025/what-will-first-type-055-destroyers-pla-east-china-fleet-mean-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3345025/what-will-first-type-055-destroyers-pla-east-china-fleet-mean-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Mar 2026 12:00:08 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen Beijing appears to be testing its 155mm (6.1-inch) naval gun to boost the PLA Navy’s land-attack firepower. The weapon would be the biggest in the People’s Liberation Army’s naval arsenal and could be useful in an amphibious operation against Taiwan. Photos of the massive weapon mounted on the bow of a test vessel have recently emerged on Chinese social media. The location was identified as the Liaonan shipyard in Dalian, in China’s northeastern Liaoning province. The estimated barrel length and... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3344362/chinas-155mm-naval-gun-seen-test-vessel-signalling-boost-amphibious-landing-power?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3344362/chinas-155mm-naval-gun-seen-test-vessel-signalling-boost-amphibious-landing-power?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Feb 2026 13:00:08 +0000 Alcott Wei Alcott Wei China’s navy still lacks the advanced underwater equipment and operational readiness needed to effectively conduct salvage operations in the event of a carrier-based aircraft crash, a military magazine tied to the country’s largest state-owned shipbuilder has warned. According to an analysis published this month, Beijing risks exposing sensitive military technology if a carrier-borne aircraft crashes and the PLA Navy fails to secure or salvage the wreckage before rival forces reach the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3343620/why-chinese-navy-still-trails-us-high-stakes-game-underwater-aircraft-recovery?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3343620/why-chinese-navy-still-trails-us-high-stakes-game-underwater-aircraft-recovery?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Feb 2026 14:00:08 +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 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 Amber Wang Amber Wang The PLA Navy hospital ship Silk Road Ark arrived at the Uruguayan port of Montevideo last Tuesday for a four-day technical stop. The port call, as reported by China’s state news agency Xinhua, marked the first visit by a Chinese naval vessel to Uruguay – which sits between South America’s two biggest economies, Brazil and Argentina. Analysts said the inaugural visit signalled that Beijing’s efforts to expand its military exchanges in the western hemisphere were unaffected by America’s military... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3341146/what-does-chinas-first-naval-visit-uruguay-say-about-its-latin-american-ambitions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3341146/what-does-chinas-first-naval-visit-uruguay-say-about-its-latin-american-ambitions?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 25 Jan 2026 13:00:09 +0000 Amber Wang Amber Wang China’s H‑6J maritime strike bomber, equipped with two reconnaissance pods, indicates it has enhanced long-range strike capabilities while supporting peacetime maritime surveillance, according to military analysts. Cai Suliang, identified as a member of an unspecified People’s Liberation Army bomber formation, said that in its external appearance the H-6J, a recent variant of the H-6 bomber series in service for at least five years, differed from the H-6K primarily owing to additional... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3340595/chinas-new-h-6j-maritime-strike-bomber-more-vision-more-range-more-roles?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3340595/chinas-new-h-6j-maritime-strike-bomber-more-vision-more-range-more-roles?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 21 Jan 2026 01:00:17 +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 Associated Press Associated Press A former US Navy sailor convicted of selling technical and operating manuals for ships and operating systems to an intelligence officer working for China was sentenced Monday to more than 16 years in prison, prosecutors said. A federal judge in San Diego sentenced Jinchao Wei, 25, to 200 months. A federal jury convicted Wei in August of six crimes, including espionage. He was paid more than US$12,000 for the information he sold, the US Department of Justice said in a statement. Wei, an engineer... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3339702/former-us-navy-sailor-jailed-16-years-selling-ship-secrets-chinese-contact?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3339702/former-us-navy-sailor-jailed-16-years-selling-ship-secrets-chinese-contact?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Jan 2026 06:15:03 +0000 Raissa Robles Raissa Robles The Philippines has expressed confidence in countering China’s widening influence in contested waters as its navy presses ahead with expanding its fleet, joint activities with foreign partners and the use of unmanned systems. Analysts say these measures would boost the interoperability of the Philippine military across the sea and air, as the South China Sea dispute continues to dominate its security planning. “We are up to the challenge [posed by] … the People’s Liberation Army Navy, Chinese... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3339264/philippine-navy-confident-it-can-navigate-south-china-sea-dispute-challenge?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3339264/philippine-navy-confident-it-can-navigate-south-china-sea-dispute-challenge?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Jan 2026 04:00:14 +0000 Zhao Ziwen Zhao Ziwen After two US Navy aircraft crashed into the South China Sea within 30 minutes of each other in October, analysts said there were lessons for the Chinese navy as it rapidly expands aircraft carrier operations. They said the People’s Liberation Army could learn from its rival’s strengths in search and rescue response, but also its weaknesses in maintenance and training. The US Navy said the aircraft – an MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter and an F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter jet – went down in separate... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3338480/us-navy-aircraft-crashes-offer-lessons-pla-carrier-operations-analysts-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3338480/us-navy-aircraft-crashes-offer-lessons-pla-carrier-operations-analysts-say?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 Jan 2026 09:00:10 +0000 Amber Wang,Seong Hyeon Choi,Yuanyue Dang Amber Wang,Seong Hyeon Choi,Yuanyue Dang US President Donald Trump’s new battleship plan, apparently aimed at deterring China, faces huge implementation hurdles and could cause Beijing to double down on its anti-ship weapons, according to analysts. Trump unveiled a new class of navy battleships on Monday. These “Trump-class” ships will be larger, faster and “100 times more powerful” than any previously built, according to the American leader, forming the centrepiece of what he called an expanded “Golden Fleet” aimed at cementing US... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3337739/golden-fleet-will-trumps-battleship-plan-deter-china-or-it-just-pipe-dream?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3337739/golden-fleet-will-trumps-battleship-plan-deter-china-or-it-just-pipe-dream?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 25 Dec 2025 22:00:16 +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 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 Alcott Wei Alcott Wei Beijing sent a Type 055 destroyer fleet to the south of Japan on Tuesday, according to Tokyo, just days after comments about Taiwan from Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi drew a strong reaction from Beijing. Japan’s defence ministry said on Wednesday that three Chinese ships, including a Type 055 destroyer, had passed through waters south of Kagoshima on Kyushu island on Tuesday before travelling through the Osumi Strait into the Pacific Ocean. According to a statement from the ministry,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3332845/3-pla-warships-sailed-past-japan-amid-row-over-sanae-takaichis-taiwan-comments?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3332845/3-pla-warships-sailed-past-japan-amid-row-over-sanae-takaichis-taiwan-comments?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 14 Nov 2025 12:00:16 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi A week after China commissioned its third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, newly leaked images, including satellite imagery and other photos, suggest that the fourth might be nuclear powered. US military website The War Zone reported on Wednesday that China’s new Type 004 aircraft carrier, which is under construction at the Dalian shipyard in the northeastern province of Liaoning, showed a hull structure apparently similar to that of American nuclear-powered supercarriers. Citing social media posts... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3332616/days-after-fujian-launch-images-suggest-china-building-first-nuclear-powered-carrier?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3332616/days-after-fujian-launch-images-suggest-china-building-first-nuclear-powered-carrier?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 13 Nov 2025 10:00:37 +0000 William Zheng William Zheng A senior naval aviation officer appears to have been appointed the Chinese navy’s acting commander, highlighting the armed forces’ focus on joint operations. Vice-Admiral Cui Yuzhong, 61, was the highest ranking naval commanding officer at the commissioning of the Fujian aircraft carrier in the southern province of Hainan last week, according to footage aired by state broadcaster CCTV. Cui is the deputy commander of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy and appeared walking behind President Xi... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3332329/pla-aviator-cui-yuzhong-track-be-chinese-navys-new-commander?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3332329/pla-aviator-cui-yuzhong-track-be-chinese-navys-new-commander?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 11 Nov 2025 09:00:09 +0000 Haining Gao Haining Gao – https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3331912/chinas-third-aircraft-carrier-enters-service?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3331912/chinas-third-aircraft-carrier-enters-service?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 07 Nov 2025 07:58:17 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen Speculation has grown that China’s latest Type 076 amphibious warship, which will serve as a drone carrier and is capable of launching fixed-wing fighters, has begun testing its advanced electromagnetic catapult. The Sichuan, which is currently being fitted out at Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard in Shanghai, was pictured on Chinese social media with its state-of-the-art launch system pointing towards the open waters of the Yangtze River, rather than facing inward towards the dock. The photo, claimed to... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3329988/chinas-next-level-type-076-amphibious-assault-ship-being-put-through-its-paces?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3329988/chinas-next-level-type-076-amphibious-assault-ship-being-put-through-its-paces?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Oct 2025 17:11:05 +0000 Raymond Ma,Neil Denslow Raymond Ma,Neil Denslow US President Donald Trump formally endorsed a planned sale of TikTok’s local operations, preventing the video app’s closure in the country and easing an issue in the trade war with China. “I have determined that the proposed divestiture would allow the millions of Americans who enjoy TikTok every day to continue using it while also protecting national security,” Trump said in an executive order. ByteDance, the app’s owner, was given 120 days to complete a deal, the fifth time Trump has extended... https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3326956/trumps-tiktok-sign-china-climate-target-zijin-gold-ipo?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3326956/trumps-tiktok-sign-china-climate-target-zijin-gold-ipo?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Sep 2025 09:00:08 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen China’s third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, has used its advanced electromagnetic catapults to launch all three types of fixed-wing aircraft developed for the vessel, passing another major test before commissioning. Quoting the navy, state broadcaster CCTV reported on Monday that J-15T fighters, fifth-generation J-35 stealth jets and carrier-based KJ-600 early warning and control aircraft completed catapult launch and arrest landing tests on the carrier. The J-35 is the world’s second... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3326424/landmark-launch-chinas-j-35-stealth-jet-fujian-aircraft-carrier?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3326424/landmark-launch-chinas-j-35-stealth-jet-fujian-aircraft-carrier?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 22 Sep 2025 12:42:15 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen China’s Fujian aircraft carrier, which is expected to be commissioned soon, is likely to be based in the South China Sea, according to military observers. Escorted by two destroyers, the third and most advanced carrier of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy departed from its shipbuilding yard in Shanghai last week, transited through the Taiwan Strait and entered the South China Sea. The Fujian headed to the waters for “scientific research experiments and training missions”, a “standard... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3325722/will-fujian-find-its-home-port-south-china-sea?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3325722/will-fujian-find-its-home-port-south-china-sea?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 16 Sep 2025 10:00:18 +0000 Enoch Wong Enoch Wong China’s third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, has left its shipyard again, according to images from Chinese social media, adding to speculation that it will soon enter military service. On Wednesday afternoon, photos and videos posted on social media platforms showed the Fujian starting its engines and emitting thick smoke before slowly departing from the Changxing Island dock at the Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai. Previously, the ship underwent three months of maintenance. State media reported... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3325228/chinas-fujian-carrier-leaves-port-adding-signs-it-will-soon-enter-service?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3325228/chinas-fujian-carrier-leaves-port-adding-signs-it-will-soon-enter-service?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Sep 2025 12:18:28 +0000 Vanessa Cai Vanessa Cai China’s navy conducted a “routine patrol” in the contested waters of the South China Sea as “deterrence” on the same day the PLA mounted a massive military parade to mark the 80th anniversary of China’s victory over Japan in World War II. The patrol on Wednesday took place in the wake of Exercise Alon, the biggest-ever joint drill between Australia and the Philippines, which ran from August 15 to 29. A Canadian frigate also took part in the exercise, while several countries, including the United... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3324368/while-chinas-military-was-parade-beijing-its-navy-patrolled-south-china-sea?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3324368/while-chinas-military-was-parade-beijing-its-navy-patrolled-south-china-sea?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Sep 2025 11:09:47 +0000 Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma Chinese President Xi Jinping said the nation was “unstoppable” as he opened a massive military parade in Beijing that displayed some of the country’s most advanced weaponry. North Korea’s Kim Jong-un and Russia’s Vladimir Putin joined Xi and other world leaders in watching more than 10,000 troops and an assortment of hardware parade through Tiananmen Square. More than 100 helicopters, military planes and fighter jets also soared overhead at the event, which commemorated the 80th anniversary of... https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3324173/chinas-display-military-might-adds-muscle-xi-diplomacy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3324173/chinas-display-military-might-adds-muscle-xi-diplomacy?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Sep 2025 09:00:55 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi A Chinese missile destroyer was seen passing by a Japanese island in the East China Sea, having nearly circled the country’s archipelago in a month-long sailing, Japan’s defence ministry said. According to the ministry, the Chinese navy’s Type 052D guided missile destroyer, also known as the Luyang-III class, bearing hull number 134, and its replenishment ship were spotted about 120km (75 miles) east of Miyako island of Okinawa prefecture by Japan’s Maritime Self-Defence Force on Sunday. “It was... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3324064/chinese-missile-destroyer-seen-passing-japanese-island-east-china-sea-tokyo?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3324064/chinese-missile-destroyer-seen-passing-japanese-island-east-china-sea-tokyo?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 02 Sep 2025 13:03:07 +0000 Raissa Robles Raissa Robles The Philippines has warned China that any attempt to board or tow away its grounded warship at the Second Thomas Shoal would be crossing a “red line” after Manila detected a sharp rise in Chinese maritime activity around the disputed feature in the South China Sea. Philippine Navy Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, spokesman for West Philippine Sea operations, told reporters on Tuesday that the military was closely monitoring a surge in Chinese maritime activity near the shoal, including the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3323393/philippines-warns-china-not-cross-red-line-over-grounded-warship-south-china-sea?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3323393/philippines-warns-china-not-cross-red-line-over-grounded-warship-south-china-sea?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 27 Aug 2025 12:55:40 +0000 Yuanyue Dang Yuanyue Dang Beijing on Friday issued its first direct comment on a reported collision in the South China Sea earlier this week, with its defence ministry strongly condemning the Philippine coastguard for “dangerous manoeuvring”. The Philippine vessels “severely jeopardised the safety of Chinese ship personnel”, ministry spokesman Jiang Bin said, referring to the confrontation near the disputed Scarborough Shoal on Monday. Several Philippine coastguard vessels and government ships had “illegally entered... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3322037/first-comment-south-china-sea-crash-beijing-slams-dangerous-moves-philippines?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3322037/first-comment-south-china-sea-crash-beijing-slams-dangerous-moves-philippines?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 Aug 2025 11:43:06 +0000 Zhao Ziwen Zhao Ziwen More tension is expected in the South China Sea following a collision between two Chinese vessels, with analysts predicting the incident was likely to prompt Beijing to further increase its presence in the contested waterway. Experts also warned that the incident could push China to enhance coordination between its navy and coastguard to prevent similar accidents in future. On Monday, Manila claimed that a China Coast Guard vessel sustained severe damage to its bow after colliding with a larger... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3321617/collision-between-chinese-ships-expected-escalate-tension-south-china-sea?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3321617/collision-between-chinese-ships-expected-escalate-tension-south-china-sea?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 Aug 2025 02:00:16 +0000 Haining Gao Haining Gao – https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3319123/chinas-aircraft-carrier-ambitions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3319123/chinas-aircraft-carrier-ambitions?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 22 Jul 2025 07:53:34 +0000 Hayley Wong Hayley Wong China’s latest amphibious warship is designed to take sea-to-land assaults to the next level – a vessel capable of launching fighters and fixed-wing drones like never before. The new-generation Type 076 assault ship will feature an advanced electromagnetic catapult launch system, allowing a wider variety of aircraft to take off more frequently during an amphibious attack. The flat-top vessel will serve as a fleet command centre that will enable drones, helicopters, fighters and landing craft... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3317834/chinas-new-type-076-sichuan-next-level-amphibious-assault-ship?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3317834/chinas-new-type-076-sichuan-next-level-amphibious-assault-ship?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 17 Jul 2025 04:00:10 +0000 Hayley Wong Hayley Wong For the first time, China has unveiled the production facilities of its fifth-generation fighters, hinting at the aircrafts’ readiness for carrier-based catapult launchers. At least two J-35 fighter jets were spotted in a hangar of its developer, Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, during an interview with Chinese state broadcaster CCTV on Tuesday. The stealth aircraft – covered in green paint – were in the background as the TV anchor introduced the J-15T, a 4.5-generation multirole fighter that can... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3317744/fifth-generation-fighters-make-cameo-appearance-china-unveils-production-facilities?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3317744/fifth-generation-fighters-make-cameo-appearance-china-unveils-production-facilities?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 10 Jul 2025 12:00:48 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi,Hayley Wong Seong Hyeon Choi,Hayley Wong America’s view of China as a “pacing threat” has shaped its defence priorities as the military seeks to maintain an edge over a rapidly modernising PLA. In the last of a three-part series on how US budget tensions will affect efforts to deter China, we look at Trump’s massive funding request aimed at turbocharging naval construction. Read the rest of the series here. US President Donald Trump aims to invest tens of billions of dollars to revitalise American shipbuilding, as China’s rapidly... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3316622/trump-wants-us30-billion-china-shipbuilding-race-heres-why-victory-wont-come-easy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3316622/trump-wants-us30-billion-china-shipbuilding-race-heres-why-victory-wont-come-easy?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 02 Jul 2025 22:00:15 +0000 Enoch Wong Enoch Wong China’s military said it “effectively stopped” a Philippine Navy ship from entering waters near a disputed South China Sea shoal this week – an encounter Manila described as “reckless” and “dangerous”. In a statement on Thursday, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Southern Theatre Command, which oversees the South China Sea, said the Philippine warship BRP Emilio Jacinto (PS35) tried to intrude into Chinese territorial waters near Scarborough Shoal – known as Huangyan Island in China – on... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3309587/south-china-sea-pla-blocks-philippine-warship-move-manila-calls-reckless?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3309587/south-china-sea-pla-blocks-philippine-warship-move-manila-calls-reckless?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 May 2025 09:41:36 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen The People’s Liberation Army has revealed details of its Type 094 nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine for the first time, during the navy’s open day. The sea-based nuclear deterrent is said to have a submerged displacement of 11,000 tonnes, according to information on display during events to mark the PLA Navy’s 76th anniversary last week. Posters on display for the open day also said the nuclear submarine had a maximum speed of 30 knots and could operate at a maximum depth of 400... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3308686/chinas-military-reveals-details-type-094-nuclear-submarine-first-time?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3308686/chinas-military-reveals-details-type-094-nuclear-submarine-first-time?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 May 2025 10:00:14 +0000 One of China’s biggest and most advanced warships is going on show on the mainland for the first time as part of this week’s events to mark the 76th anniversary of the PLA Navy. The People’s Liberation Army’s Type 075 amphibious assault ship will lower its gangplank to welcome the public aboard in Hainan, its namesake home port, on Thursday during one of a series of open days in more than 10 coastal cities, according to state news agency Xinhua. More than 30 active-duty warships will be open to... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3307591/chinese-navy-introduces-one-its-biggest-warships-public-open-day-celebration?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3307591/chinese-navy-introduces-one-its-biggest-warships-public-open-day-celebration?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Apr 2025 08:00:51 +0000 The US military is set to integrate long-range ship attack missiles into its fighter jets to strengthen its ability to launch air assaults in a potential war with China in the Pacific, according to a US media report. Citing a contract notice posted online by the US Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), US defence news website The War Zone reported on Tuesday that the US Navy was set to help integrate a variant of the AGM-158C Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) onto the F-16 Viper fighter. In the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3303002/us-navy-extend-pacific-reach-long-range-anti-ship-f-16-stealth-missiles-report?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3303002/us-navy-extend-pacific-reach-long-range-anti-ship-f-16-stealth-missiles-report?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 19 Mar 2025 12:00:08 +0000 Australia is scrambling to deploy new long-range missiles as the recent arrival of powerful Chinese warships off the Australian coast delivers a sharp reminder of Beijing’s growing naval muscle. In a move to boost military firepower, Canberra plans to arm Australian soldiers with anti-ship missiles and advanced targeting radars to protect the country’s vast maritime approaches, according to contract announcements as well as a flurry of recent official speeches and ministerial statements. Two new... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3302315/australia-boosts-military-firepower-anti-ship-missiles-after-china-naval-drill?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3302315/australia-boosts-military-firepower-anti-ship-missiles-after-china-naval-drill?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 14 Mar 2025 02:39:23 +0000 China will hold joint naval exercises with Russia and Iran in the Indian Ocean this month, the Chinese defence ministry said on Sunday. The ministry said the “Security Belt-2025” joint exercise would be held near the Iranian port of Chabahar on the coast of the Gulf of Oman with the aim of deepening “military trust and pragmatic cooperation”. The exercise will include simulated attacks on maritime targets, joint search and rescue drills, and spot checks and arrests. China will send the Type 052D... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3301673/china-set-joint-naval-exercise-security-belt-2025-russia-and-iran?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3301673/china-set-joint-naval-exercise-security-belt-2025-russia-and-iran?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 09 Mar 2025 11:00:10 +0000 A Chinese naval fleet led by the Type 055 destroyer Zunyi is nearing the completion of its unprecedented circumnavigation of Australia, which included sailing near a strategically sensitive defence facility off Western Australia. The Australian Defence Force said on Thursday morning the flotilla was 630 nautical miles (1,166km) northwest of Perth. It was the ninth official update since Tuesday last week and was accompanied by surveillance images taken on Monday. Analysts suggest the warships may... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3301331/chinese-navy-ships-round-out-australian-circuit-sail-past-base-hosting-us-submarine?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3301331/chinese-navy-ships-round-out-australian-circuit-sail-past-base-hosting-us-submarine?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 06 Mar 2025 10:36:45 +0000 The Chinese military has formed a new data unit to help naval commanders make decisions – something that could be extended to other branches of the armed forces in future. A report in the official People’s Liberation Army Daily said the naval training unit was building an “expert” team to improve the use of data resources and develop advanced training methods. The report said that in a recent naval exercise, thousands of combat data points were swiftly analysed and compiled into a report that... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3300503/chinese-military-unveils-new-data-unit-help-naval-commanders-make-decisions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3300503/chinese-military-unveils-new-data-unit-help-naval-commanders-make-decisions?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 28 Feb 2025 07:00:11 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen Almost a decade has passed since the People’s Liberation Army pulled the trigger on President Xi Jinping’s plans for a massive overhaul of the world’s biggest military. In the sixth of a series on Chinese weapons systems, we look at the country’s guided-missile destroyers. The blue-water role of China’s newest variety of naval destroyer was on show last week when Type 055 destroyer Zunyi led a small flotilla to conduct live-fire drills in international waters off the Australian east coast,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3300160/meet-type-055-destroyers-steering-chinas-blue-water-ambitions-far-australia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3300160/meet-type-055-destroyers-steering-chinas-blue-water-ambitions-far-australia?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 26 Feb 2025 06:00:13 +0000 A new Chinese attack submarine being built at a shipyard in Wuhan could be used to target medium-range missile defence systems deployed in the Philippines, according to a semi-official military magazine. The People’s Liberation Army has yet to confirm that the larger class of submarine is under development. But the report in Naval & Merchant Ships – a publication owned by China State Shipbuilding Corporation, a supplier to the PLA Navy – provides details of the vessel’s design and capabilities,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3299675/chinas-new-submarine-may-have-typhon-missiles-philippines-its-sights-report-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3299675/chinas-new-submarine-may-have-typhon-missiles-philippines-its-sights-report-says?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 23 Feb 2025 02:00:18 +0000 Airlines modified flight paths between Australia and New Zealand on Friday after China notified Australia that the People’s Liberation Army Navy would hold live-fire exercises off the New South Wales coast in international waters, a rare event. Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told reporters on Friday afternoon that the time period for the Chinese navy exercises had expired, and it was unclear if live fire had been used by the Chinese navy. “China issued, in accordance with practice,... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3299595/australia-warns-airlines-over-chinese-navy-live-fire-drills-tasman-sea?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3299595/australia-warns-airlines-over-chinese-navy-live-fire-drills-tasman-sea?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 21 Feb 2025 06:43:25 +0000 Australia is closely monitoring a Chinese navy task group in the country’s exclusive economic zone off its east coast but the ships did not pose any threats as they had not breached any maritime laws, Defence Minister Richard Marles said on Thursday. A PLA Navy frigate, cruiser and replenishment vessel had last week entered Australia’s maritime approaches with the frigate transiting the Torres Strait between Australia and Papua New Guinea. It has since moved south, sailing within 150 nautical... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3299371/australia-says-watching-every-move-chinese-warships-sydneys-coast?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3299371/australia-says-watching-every-move-chinese-warships-sydneys-coast?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 20 Feb 2025 01:36:58 +0000 The West should not pressure Pacific island countries to choose between cooperating with China or with the US and its allies, a British navy admiral has said, pointing out that Beijing’s maritime dominance could cast considerable influence over the small island nations. On Wednesday, during the West 2025 conference hosted by the US Naval Institute and AFCEA in San Diego, Rear Admiral James Parkin, who is responsible for overseeing the development of naval technologies for the British Royal Navy,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3296880/dont-force-pacific-island-nations-choose-between-china-and-west-uk-navy-admiral?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3296880/dont-force-pacific-island-nations-choose-between-china-and-west-uk-navy-admiral?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 31 Jan 2025 06:14:51 +0000