https://www.scmp.com/rss/522540/feed The latest news and top stories on the People’s Liberation Army. A prominent Beijing-based governmental body, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is the unified military organisation of the People's Republic of China and the Chinese Communist Party. Its primary mission involves defending national sovereignty, territorial integrity and the Party’s interests, alongside protecting overseas interests and promoting global peace. The PLA, comprising ground, naval, air, rocket, aerospace, cyberspace and... en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Lucy Quaggin,Xinmei Shen Lucy Quaggin,Xinmei Shen The CIA released a provocative recruitment video on Thursday targeting Chinese military officers, a move that exposes the underlying tensions threatening a fragile calm in US-China relations ahead of April’s highly anticipated meeting between the two countries’ leaders. The release of the recruitment video comes on the same day US President Donald Trump boasted about his “very good relationship” with China. It is likely to draw the ire of Beijing in the lead-up to the key diplomatic meeting with... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3343381/cia-post-new-video-recruit-chinese-military-officers-informants?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3343381/cia-post-new-video-recruit-chinese-military-officers-informants?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Feb 2026 19:39:09 +0000 Yuanyue Dang Yuanyue Dang China has deployed a section of its mysterious cyberspace force to the South China Sea to remain “ready for action”, with the unit making a rare appearance in Chinese President Xi Jinping’s Lunar New Year greeting to the military. Xi conveyed his Lunar New Year message to multiple branches of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) via video on Wednesday from Beijing’s Bayi Building – the headquarters of the powerful military command body, the Central Military Commission – according to state... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3343312/xis-new-year-message-military-reveals-pla-cyberspace-force-post-south-china-sea?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3343312/xis-new-year-message-military-reveals-pla-cyberspace-force-post-south-china-sea?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Feb 2026 12:00:12 +0000 Amber Wang Amber Wang A Chinese defence giant has flexed its production muscle early in the new year by releasing a video of its star product, the J-35 stealth fighter, and pledging to double its warplane production over the next three to five years. On Tuesday, a green-coated J-35 fighter roared down the runway at the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) airfield in China’s northern Liaoning province, making its first flight of the year, according to a video released by the manufacturer, a subsidiary of Aviation... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3339315/chinas-j-35-jet-maker-flexes-production-muscle-pledging-double-output-5-years?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3339315/chinas-j-35-jet-maker-flexes-production-muscle-pledging-double-output-5-years?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Jan 2026 10:00:35 +0000 Rob York Rob York The US decision to raid Venezuela, detain its President Nicolas Maduro and bring him to the United States, ostensibly on drug trafficking charges, will have serious downstream effects, but of what variety? US President Donald Trump has already sent ominous warnings to other Latin American countries whose leaders oppose all or parts of his agenda – from Colombia to Cuba to Mexico – and threatened Maduro’s successor with similar, or worse, treatment if she does not cooperate. Does this suggest... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3338997/why-us-move-against-maduro-unlikely-drive-china-latin-america?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3338997/why-us-move-against-maduro-unlikely-drive-china-latin-america?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Jan 2026 12:30:10 +0000 Shi Jiangtao Shi Jiangtao Zhou Bo is a retired senior colonel in the People’s Liberation Army and a senior fellow at Tsinghua University’s Centre for International Security and Strategy. His military career included roles in the Ministry of National Defence’s Foreign Affairs Office and as a defence attaché. Zhou is the author of the recent book Should the World Fear China? SCMP Plus readers get early access to articles in the Open Questions series. This article will be available to regular SCMP subscribers next... https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3334347/ex-pla-colonel-taiwan-question-ukraine-war-china-us-ties?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3334347/ex-pla-colonel-taiwan-question-ukraine-war-china-us-ties?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 28 Nov 2025 02:00:13 +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 Coco Feng Coco Feng Alibaba Group Holding on Saturday dismissed a Financial Times report alleging its connection with the Chinese military and questioned if the accusation was an attempt to sabotage US President Donald Trump’s recent deal with Beijing. The report said Alibaba was supplying the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) with unspecified capabilities that the White House claimed would threaten US national security, citing a memo that included declassified top-secret intelligence. “The assertions and innuendos in... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3332911/alibaba-condemns-ft-report-firms-alleged-pla-ties-completely-false-malicious?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3332911/alibaba-condemns-ft-report-firms-alleged-pla-ties-completely-false-malicious?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 15 Nov 2025 05:50:33 +0000 Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma The Fujian, China’s recently commissioned third aircraft carrier, has started a period of intense training and combat-capability building as Beijing begins to challenge the US Navy’s dominance of the Pacific Ocean (See SCMP Plus Factsheet). Testing of operations and equipment would be the key focus, along with building up a full-strength deployment of aircraft, Captain Chen Zhiguo told state broadcaster CCTV on Saturday. The vessel may be able to carry 40 fixed-wing aircraft, according to the US... https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3332196/chinas-pacific-power-takes-strategic-leap-new-carrier?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3332196/chinas-pacific-power-takes-strategic-leap-new-carrier?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 10 Nov 2025 09:03:32 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg The US military is close to fielding two new weapons designed to temporally jam Chinese and Russian intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance satellites, giving the Pentagon three counter-space capabilities, according to new Space Force data. The weapons, called Meadowlands and Remote Sensing Terminals, will join a larger and less mobile “Counter Communications System” jammer – an upgraded big dish that was declared operational in 2020. The fresh systems will be dispersed worldwide and... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3331538/us-space-force-use-3-weapons-jam-chinese-satellites-remote-control?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3331538/us-space-force-use-3-weapons-jam-chinese-satellites-remote-control?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 04 Nov 2025 17:16:33 +0000 Amber Wang Amber Wang The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has refrained from conducting a large-scale drill near Taiwan following its leader’s annual policy speech – an address seen as less provocative than last year’s, which drew sabre-rattling from Beijing. Figures released by Taiwan’s defence ministry showed there was no increase in the number of PLA warplanes and warships detected near the island following William Lai Ching-te’s Double Tenth address on October 10. According to the Taiwanese figures, the PLA... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3329578/no-major-pla-activities-near-taiwan-after-troublemaker-william-lais-policy-speech?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3329578/no-major-pla-activities-near-taiwan-after-troublemaker-william-lais-policy-speech?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Oct 2025 14:00:10 +0000 William Zheng William Zheng The Chinese public has come out in force to pay tribute to Communist Party undercover agents who perished during the 1940s civil war, inspired by a television drama that gained a passionate following and sparked an outpouring of praise. The fervour centres on Silent Honour, the first mainland TV series to chronicle the Communist Party’s espionage activities in Taiwan in the war’s final months. It was when one of the party’s major intelligence operations was systematically crushed by the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3329472/popular-chinese-spy-drama-silent-honour-inspires-outpouring-praise-real-life-agents?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3329472/popular-chinese-spy-drama-silent-honour-inspires-outpouring-praise-real-life-agents?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Oct 2025 02:00:11 +0000 Yuanyue Dang Yuanyue Dang A Chinese J-16 fighter that locked onto two foreign warplanes – believed to be American F-22s – before escorting them out of the country’s air defence identification zone highlighted the People’s Liberation Army’s “integrated combat capabilities”, military analysts have said. The incident came to light in a report aired by state broadcaster CCTV earlier this month. It said that the fighter had expelled two foreign aircraft last year and they had not been seen in the area since then. Yue Gang, a... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3329375/china-showed-integrated-combat-capabilities-locking-us-fifth-generation-jets?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3329375/china-showed-integrated-combat-capabilities-locking-us-fifth-generation-jets?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Oct 2025 10:00:19 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen A People’s Liberation Army landing barge believed to be intended specifically for military operations near Taiwan has been spotted on the move, according to a video posted on Chinese social media. The video, which surfaced on the internet on Monday, shows the self-elevating jack-up barge sailing in an unidentified body of water with its road ramp and signature eight struts raised. While the date and location of the video are unknown, mountains and other vessels are visible in the background,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3329230/pla-navys-taiwan-focused-landing-barge-spotted-sea-destination-unknown?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3329230/pla-navys-taiwan-focused-landing-barge-spotted-sea-destination-unknown?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Oct 2025 12:00:13 +0000 Jane Cai Jane Cai China is harnessing an ancient mental calculation technique to train soldiers as “human abacuses” for high-stakes combat scenarios where advanced technology might fail. The initiative reflects China’s strategic push to blend traditional methods, such as the abacus and paper-based calculations, with modern warfare tactics. As an example of the approach, CCTV highlighted the feats of Captain Xu Meiduo, a stand-out in the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) land forces. The state broadcaster showed a... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3328943/how-chinese-military-uses-human-abacuses-counter-smart-device-failures?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3328943/how-chinese-military-uses-human-abacuses-counter-smart-device-failures?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Oct 2025 11:00:09 +0000 SCMP SCMP Catch up on some of SCMP’s biggest China stories of the day. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. China’s exports defy expectations in September under weight of trade war uncertainty China’s exports rebounded in September after hitting a six-month low in August, supported by recovering overseas demand and front-loading ahead of the “super golden week” holiday – though the latest flare-up with the United States over the weekend has renewed uncertainty... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3328851/chinas-exports-defy-expectations-military-mouthpieces-pla-vow-scmp-daily-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3328851/chinas-exports-defy-expectations-military-mouthpieces-pla-vow-scmp-daily-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 13 Oct 2025 13:30:07 +0000 Yuanyue Dang Yuanyue Dang China’s military mouthpiece has called for greater efforts to address what it says are deficiencies in the People’s Liberation Army’s integrated joint operational capabilities. In a commentary on Monday, the PLA Daily said China’s military had yet to achieve a “deep integration” of “equipment, battlefields, personnel and training conditions”, which was causing shortcomings in joint operations. To overcome such weaknesses, PLA commanders at all levels should “systematically strengthen the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3328826/deep-integration-chinese-military-will-overcome-its-weaknesses-pla-mouthpiece?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3328826/deep-integration-chinese-military-will-overcome-its-weaknesses-pla-mouthpiece?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 13 Oct 2025 10:17:16 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen China’s small arms – less conspicuous than its cutting-edge fighter jets but just as significant – are undergoing a major transformation. The QBZ-191 assault rifle, designed to eventually replace the People’s Liberation Army’s long-serving QBZ-95 family, reflects China’s commitment to boosting combat effectiveness to meet the demands of future conflicts. Designated among the Type 20 rifle family, the firearm made its public debut during the 2019 National Day parade in Beijing. The full family –... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3328706/qbz-191-assault-rifle-gives-chinese-small-arms-tactical-and-export-edge?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3328706/qbz-191-assault-rifle-gives-chinese-small-arms-tactical-and-export-edge?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 13 Oct 2025 06:00:11 +0000 Zhao Ziwen Zhao Ziwen The People’s Liberation Army said on Wednesday it would carry out a joint drill with Malaysia around the South China Sea next week, announcing the manoeuvres a day after the Philippine and Japanese air forces began a joint exercise over the disputed waters. This year’s joint drill, Aman Youyi-2025, is the sixth time the exercise has been held, with the first taking place in 2014. According to the PLA’s Southern Theatre Command, more than 1,000 personnel will take part, with equipment including... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3328244/pla-announces-south-china-sea-drill-malaysia-japan-philippines-exercise-begins?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3328244/pla-announces-south-china-sea-drill-malaysia-japan-philippines-exercise-begins?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Oct 2025 10:16:40 +0000 Yuanyue Dang Yuanyue Dang A Chinese military journal has described the People’s Liberation Army’s latest underwater unmanned systems as “disruptive” and highlighted their intelligent capabilities. According to Ordnance Industry Science Technology, the unmanned submersibles showcased during the large-scale military parade held in Beijing on September 3 possessed “zero-radius turning manoeuvrability”, enabling them to “operate with ease in complex maritime environments”. An author writing in the journal’s latest issue... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3327870/chinese-militarys-new-underwater-unmanned-systems-are-disruptive-intelligent-journal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3327870/chinese-militarys-new-underwater-unmanned-systems-are-disruptive-intelligent-journal?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 Oct 2025 14:00:08 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim China has disclosed an incident last year in which one of its J-16 aircraft locked onto and expelled two unnamed foreign stealth fighter jets of a type that has not appeared near the country’s coastal waters since. State broadcaster CCTV on Friday aired an interview with Li Chao, a pilot from the People’s Liberation Army’s Western Theatre Command, who recounted the event that happened during a coastal training exercise last year. Without naming any country, Li said the foreign forces had “clear... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3327874/chinas-j-16-aircraft-expelled-2-foreign-stealth-fighter-jets-last-year-report?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3327874/chinas-j-16-aircraft-expelled-2-foreign-stealth-fighter-jets-last-year-report?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 Oct 2025 13:00:07 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim Beijing has built more structures resembling Taiwan’s key government buildings at its military base in Inner Mongolia, according to satellite images obtained by a Japanese think tank, a move that suggests more systematic training for a potential conflict across the strait. Sankei Shimbun, a right-leaning Japanese newspaper, reported that an analysis of satellite images obtained on Wednesday by the Japan Institute for National Fundamentals found that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) had... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3327667/more-mock-taiwan-government-buildings-spotted-mainland-chinese-military-base?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3327667/more-mock-taiwan-government-buildings-spotted-mainland-chinese-military-base?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Oct 2025 04:00:11 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen Sailors from two visiting PLA naval vessels have shown their softer side by sharing their experiences touring Hong Kong during the National Day celebrations and revealing how the city’s pop culture has influenced them. Thousands of residents also headed to Stonecutters Island to board the training vessel Qi Jiguang and amphibious assault ship Yimeng Shan on Thursday, the final day they were open to members of the public able to secure one of the 11,000 tickets the People’s Liberation Army gave... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3327612/stephen-chow-films-beyond-hits-pla-sailors-share-hong-kong-affinity?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3327612/stephen-chow-films-beyond-hits-pla-sailors-share-hong-kong-affinity?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Oct 2025 07:34:34 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial China is justifiably proud of its accomplishments over the past three-quarters of a century, having evolved from a newly established republic in 1949 to one of the world’s leading powers and economies today. The deep sense of pride and achievement also resonated widely in Hong Kong as it celebrated National Day yesterday, although with mixed optimism and many challenges ahead. The celebration activities, including the firework display over Victoria Harbour and the four-day port visit of two... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3327521/hong-kong-marks-national-day-hope-amid-challenges?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3327521/hong-kong-marks-national-day-hope-amid-challenges?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Oct 2025 22:45:07 +0000 Cannix Yau Cannix Yau Hundreds of thousands of spectators packed Hong Kong’s harbourfront for a fireworks display on National Day, capping off celebrations that included an open day at PLA naval ships and visitors descending upon the city for shopping, sightseeing and hiking. Police said 344,000 people packed both sides of Victoria Harbour to watch the 23-minute display on Wednesday, the local highlight of the first day of mainland China’s “golden week” holiday. The Immigration Department recorded a net inflow of... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3327548/hong-kong-marks-national-day-fireworks-naval-ship-tours-and-horseraces?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3327548/hong-kong-marks-national-day-fireworks-naval-ship-tours-and-horseraces?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Oct 2025 14:04:52 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen Scores of Hong Kong residents set off at dawn to visit two People’s Liberation Army naval ships anchored at Stonecutters Island as part of the National Day celebrations on Wednesday, while military college students savoured the city’s street food and admired its skyline. Training vessel Qi Jiguang and amphibious assault ship Yimeng Shan, harboured at the island’s naval base, were opened up to 11,000 residents who secured free tickets given out by the PLA over the weekend. More than 30 people... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3327513/hongkongers-tour-pla-naval-ships-trainees-sample-local-delicacies?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3327513/hongkongers-tour-pla-naval-ships-trainees-sample-local-delicacies?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Oct 2025 09:03:43 +0000 Cannix Yau Cannix Yau Hong Kong has started its National Day celebrations with an upbeat message from President Xi Jinping, two visiting PLA warships thrilling onlookers in Victoria Harbour and the restaurant sector betting on a business bump of up to 20 per cent during the extra-long “golden week” holiday. In a speech in Beijing on Tuesday to celebrate the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, Xi called on the nation to keep on working hard and to forge ahead with determination in... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3327438/hong-kong-gears-national-day-celebrations-xi-delivers-upbeat-message?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3327438/hong-kong-gears-national-day-celebrations-xi-delivers-upbeat-message?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 30 Sep 2025 15:36:01 +0000 Cannix Yau Cannix Yau Hong Kong kicked off National Day “golden week” celebrations on Tuesday with two People’s Liberation Army (PLA) warships thrilling onlookers at Victoria Harbour and the catering sector betting on a business bump of up to 20 per cent amid a raft of festivities in the city. Michael Leung Chun-wah, chairman of the Association for Hong Kong Catering Services Management, gave the upbeat forecast as about 4,000 restaurants – the highest number in three years – joined its campaign to offer a 30 per... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3327420/hong-kong-caterers-eye-20-sales-bump-national-day-festivities-kick?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3327420/hong-kong-caterers-eye-20-sales-bump-national-day-festivities-kick?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 30 Sep 2025 12:02:33 +0000 Matthew Cheng,Harvey Kong,Emily Hung,Jiang Chuqin,Leopold Chen Matthew Cheng,Harvey Kong,Emily Hung,Jiang Chuqin,Leopold Chen Hong Kong welcomed two People’s Liberation Army naval vessels that sailed into the city’s waters for a four-day port call as part of National Day celebrations, with hundreds of students boarding the warships for a patriotic education tour. Training vessel Qi Jiguang and amphibious landing ship Yimeng Shan arrived at around 8am on Tuesday via Tathong Channel in eastern waters, guided by local marine police vessels and the PLA Hong Kong garrison’s guided-missile frigate Suqian, hull number... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3327303/hong-kong-welcomes-2-pla-naval-vessels-national-day-celebrations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3327303/hong-kong-welcomes-2-pla-naval-vessels-national-day-celebrations?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 30 Sep 2025 00:59:59 +0000 Stephen Chen Stephen Chen China has deployed a working prototype of a global defence system similar to the United States’ proposed Golden Dome, while hailing a breakthrough in data processing technology for worldwide threat management, according to scientists involved in the project. Although the “distributed early warning detection big data platform” is still in its early stages of development, it can simultaneously monitor a thousand missiles fired at China from anywhere in the world, according to the developers. By... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3327224/china-fields-golden-dome-prototype?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3327224/china-fields-golden-dome-prototype?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 29 Sep 2025 22:00:08 +0000 Yuanyue Dang Yuanyue Dang A Chinese military magazine has shed light on the mysterious laser weapon unveiled at the country’s Victory Day parade in Beijing this month, and argues that its output exceeds that of its American counterparts. According to Ordnance Industry Science Technology, a Chinese military journal, the Liaoyuan-1 (LY-1) shipborne laser weapon displayed in the military parade on September 3 will be tasked with “close-range interception of incoming missiles and drones”, serving as the “last line of... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3327271/last-line-defence-military-journal-sheds-light-chinas-new-ly-1-shipborne-laser-weapon?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3327271/last-line-defence-military-journal-sheds-light-chinas-new-ly-1-shipborne-laser-weapon?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 29 Sep 2025 14:00:10 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen The Chinese military has warned against Japan’s laser weapon plans, accusing Tokyo of undermining regional security. Japan has made progress in road-mobile laser weapons and will begin a ship-mounted laser weapon programme that can intercept incoming small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), a commentary in the PLA Daily on Tuesday noted. “These trends should be watched with high caution,” it said. Laser weapons are an effective measure against the fast-developing drone warfare, with the advantages... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3326595/china-criticises-japans-laser-weapon-plans-threat-regional-stability?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3326595/china-criticises-japans-laser-weapon-plans-threat-regional-stability?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 23 Sep 2025 15:51:18 +0000 Liu Zhen,Alcott Wei Liu Zhen,Alcott Wei The People’s Liberation Army has revealed a combat drone – converted from a retired 1950s J-6 fighter jet – that could be used for a swarm attack in a potential conflict across the Taiwan Strait. The drone was unveiled at the Changchun air show in northeast China, which opened on Friday and finishes on Tuesday. Its appearance has confirmed years of speculation that the PLA was trying to repurpose its legacy fleet of J-6s. China built thousands of the warplanes – based on the Soviet MiG-19 – from... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3326390/pla-turned-soviet-era-fighter-jet-drone-could-be-used-swarm-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3326390/pla-turned-soviet-era-fighter-jet-drone-could-be-used-swarm-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 22 Sep 2025 14:00:17 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen As China’s Victory Day parade got under way in Beijing on September 3, some of the world’s most advanced military hardware began to file through Tiananmen Square with an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) – the GJ-11 “Sharp Sword” – leading the way. The drone, with the number 21 displayed on its fuselage, represented one of the most advanced uncrewed systems in service in the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). A closer look at the aircraft’s wings showed visible folding hinges, a change from the debut... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3325565/chinas-gj-11-sharp-sword-uav-poised-crucial-roles-intelligent-warfare?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3325565/chinas-gj-11-sharp-sword-uav-poised-crucial-roles-intelligent-warfare?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 22 Sep 2025 02:00:48 +0000 Stephen Chen Stephen Chen Chinese naval researchers have detailed plans to construct a multilayered defence architecture designed to protect warships from saturation attacks by up to thousands of low-cost drones, responding to what they call an existential threat amplified by accessible commercial technology. The proposed “counter-swarm system”, likened by some experts to a digital-age Great Wall, would integrate satellites, AI-powered sensors and radical new weapons – including hypersonic missiles, lasers and microwave... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3325299/china-plans-build-naval-great-wall-fend-thousand-drone-swarm-attack?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3325299/china-plans-build-naval-great-wall-fend-thousand-drone-swarm-attack?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 19 Sep 2025 12:00:10 +0000 Stephen Chen Stephen Chen Amid the roar of China’s military parade on September 3, a few trucks rolled through Tiananmen Square with camouflaged loads tagged “CJ-1000”. The trucks were hauling surface-launched hypersonic cruise missiles also known as Long Sword-1000s – weapons designed for ultra-long-range strikes on “system-node targets on the ground, at sea or in the air”, according to Chinese state media. China has not officially disclosed the detailed specifications of the CJ-1000. Though a new weapon must pass many... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3326010/how-deadly-cj-1000-worlds-first-hypersonic-plane-killer-pla-war-game-gives-hint?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3326010/how-deadly-cj-1000-worlds-first-hypersonic-plane-killer-pla-war-game-gives-hint?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 19 Sep 2025 02:00:16 +0000 Khushboo Razdan,Robert Delaney Khushboo Razdan,Robert Delaney US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that his administration was moving to retake control of Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, claiming that such a move was necessary because of the facility’s proximity to nuclear weapons sites in China. Bagram, located 44 kilometres (27 miles) north of Kabul, was the largest US military base in Afghanistan and the central hub of the 20-year US-led campaign until American and Nato forces withdrew in 2021 under former US president Joe Biden. “We’re trying to... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3326045/trump-says-us-moving-reclaim-key-afghan-air-base-links-it-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3326045/trump-says-us-moving-reclaim-key-afghan-air-base-links-it-china?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Sep 2025 17:25:40 +0000 Yuanyue Dang Yuanyue Dang Mainland China’s conventional weapons are “sufficient” to “resolve the Taiwan issue”, but peaceful reunification is still the preferred option, according to a retired general. On Wednesday, Lieutenant General He Lei, the former vice-president of the People’s Liberation Army Academy of Military Sciences, told Phoenix Television that there was “no explicit distinction” about whether mainland China’s advanced weaponry was aimed at Taiwan. Speaking on the sidelines of the Xiangshan military forum in... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3325984/mainland-chinas-conventional-weapons-enough-resolve-taiwan-issue-says-ex-general?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3325984/mainland-chinas-conventional-weapons-enough-resolve-taiwan-issue-says-ex-general?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Sep 2025 08:22:02 +0000 Zhao Ziwen Zhao Ziwen As China hosts its annual defence conference, the Beijing Xiangshan Forum, Defence Minister Dong Jun outlined the country’s priorities and aims. During his 30-minute keynote speech Dong addressed key issues, including Taiwan, the South China Sea and China’s take on regional blocs by US allies. 1. Historical memory and 9/18 anniversary Dong opened by marking the 918 Incident in which Japan began its invasion of China, starting from the northeast in 1931. He urged nations to “never forget the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3325931/takeaways-defence-minister-dong-juns-speech-xiangshan-forum?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3325931/takeaways-defence-minister-dong-juns-speech-xiangshan-forum?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Sep 2025 01:51:36 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen China will work with Singapore to maintain regional stability and maritime order, Beijing’s top-ranked military officer told Singapore’s defence minister on Wednesday. General Zhang Youxia, a vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), offered the commitment during talks with Chan Chun Sing on the sidelines of the Beijing Xiangshan Forum. “China is willing to work with Singapore to … strengthen regional security cooperation, support each other’s core interests, maintain maritime... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3325909/china-ready-work-singapore-regional-stability-top-military-officer-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3325909/china-ready-work-singapore-regional-stability-top-military-officer-says?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 Sep 2025 14:21:10 +0000 Alcott Wei Alcott Wei When China held its first Victory Day military parade in 2015, more than 50 generals joined troops to march down Changan Avenue in central Beijing. The generals of all stripes led dozens of formations past the Tiananmen rostrum, saluting President Xi Jinping and other leaders as the official announcer read out each commander’s name. By taking the unprecedented steps, the senior commanders were setting an example for the soldiers, a spokesman for the parade organisers said at the time. The... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3325750/why-were-chinas-generals-missing-action-during-victory-day-parade?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3325750/why-were-chinas-generals-missing-action-during-victory-day-parade?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 Sep 2025 01:00:14 +0000 Orange Wang Orange Wang China’s coastguard says a Philippine ship deliberately collided with one of its vessels in a confrontation near the disputed Scarborough Shoal on Tuesday, as tensions escalate in the South China Sea. The coastguard used water cannons and other “control measures” against the Philippine vessels it said were conducting “illegal activities” in the area. It is the latest flare-up between the rival claimants to the atoll – known as Huangyan Island in China and Panatag Shoal in the Philippines – and... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3325684/china-says-philippine-ship-deliberately-hit-coastguard-vessel-near-scarborough-shoal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3325684/china-says-philippine-ship-deliberately-hit-coastguard-vessel-near-scarborough-shoal?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 16 Sep 2025 06:00:15 +0000 Sophie Wushuang Yi Sophie Wushuang Yi China’s Victory Day military parade presents a fascinating paradox. With over 12,000 troops reportedly marching through Tiananmen Square, this spectacle celebrates a defensive military doctrine while showcasing power-projection capabilities that would make any expeditionary force envious. It reveals how Beijing is pioneering a new grammar of military power that particularly resonates with the Global South. The parade’s most consequential audience may not be Washington but middle powers from... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3325349/chinas-victory-day-parade-was-message-global-south?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3325349/chinas-victory-day-parade-was-message-global-south?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 14 Sep 2025 22:30:13 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Taiwan’s reliance on imported energy is seen as its most critical weakness if a conflict breaks out with Beijing, and experts warn a prolonged blockade could paralyse the island within days. Those concerns deepened after Taiwan shut down its last nuclear power plant in May, and an August referendum to restart it failed. As debate continues over renewables versus fossil fuels, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government has little room to manoeuvre. At the heart of the problem is Taiwan’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3325302/taiwan-faces-dangerous-possibility-it-relies-qatar-and-others-energy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3325302/taiwan-faces-dangerous-possibility-it-relies-qatar-and-others-energy?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 14 Sep 2025 02:00:11 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Taiwan has accused Beijing of crossing a dangerous new line in its military intimidation campaign after People’s Liberation Army (PLA) warplanes closed in on a Taiwanese medical evacuation aircraft near the frontline islet of Quemoy earlier this year. In a statement on Tuesday, officials condemned the manoeuvre as an “irrational” act that endangered lives, undermined humanitarian rescue operations and posed a serious threat to flight safety. Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council, which oversees... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3324961/taiwan-says-its-medical-evacuation-flight-was-intimidated-beijings-warplanes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3324961/taiwan-says-its-medical-evacuation-flight-was-intimidated-beijings-warplanes?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 10 Sep 2025 06:00:12 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen The Chinese military’s new Type 100 tank – unveiled at last week’s Victory Day parade in Beijing – marks a fundamental shift towards “intelligent, information-driven and unmanned” warfare, according to state media. The lightweight tank is a departure from traditional armoured vehicle design that emphasises the race between thicker armour and stronger penetration. Instead, the People’s Liberation Army has reportedly prioritised the integration of intelligent systems in response to developments in... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3324831/chinas-new-type-100-tank-marks-shift-towards-information-driven-and-uncrewed-warfare?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3324831/chinas-new-type-100-tank-marks-shift-towards-information-driven-and-uncrewed-warfare?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Sep 2025 14:00:09 +0000 Enoch Wong Enoch Wong The People’s Liberation Army announced on Tuesday that China, Russia and Mongolia had conducted their first ever joint border defence exercise, named “Border Defence Cooperation 2025”. The exercise, held from September 8 to 9 near Manzhouli in Inner Mongolia autonomous region along the China-Russia-Mongolia border, focused on “joint prevention and crackdown on terrorist sabotage activities in border areas”, the PLA said on social media. It is the first time that the border defence forces of the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3324909/china-russia-and-mongolia-team-first-ever-border-defence-drill?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3324909/china-russia-and-mongolia-team-first-ever-border-defence-drill?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Sep 2025 12:00:08 +0000 Enoch Wong Enoch Wong China’s carrier-borne J-35 advanced stealth fighters can carry up to six missiles, according to a programme on state broadcaster CCTV, as more details are revealed following last week’s massive People’s Liberation Army (PLA) parade in Beijing. Both the J-35 and J-35A featured in the aerial formations for Wednesday’s parade commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. Fighter designers discussed the pairing in a CCTV programme aired on Thursday, exploring the design connections... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3324793/chinas-carrier-borne-j-35-stealth-jets-can-pack-6-missiles-designers-say-cctv?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3324793/chinas-carrier-borne-j-35-stealth-jets-can-pack-6-missiles-designers-say-cctv?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 08 Sep 2025 14:17:13 +0000 Meredith Chen Meredith Chen Hundreds of civilian companies and universities outside the traditional defence tech network are playing an increasingly “consequential” role in the Chinese military’s AI-related procurement, according to a US think tank. In a report released on Wednesday, analysts at Georgetown University’s Centre for Security and Emerging Technology in Washington gave multiple examples of these tie-ups with the People’s Liberation Army. They included a Chengdu drone maker that sold a full combat system to the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3324727/chinas-growing-civilian-defence-ai-ties-will-challenge-us-report-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3324727/chinas-growing-civilian-defence-ai-ties-will-challenge-us-report-says?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 08 Sep 2025 12:00:09 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim The Pentagon’s reported plans to focus on domestic and regional threats over countering China signals an “inevitable” waning of Washington’s global power, according to a retired People’s Liberation Army (PLA) officer. The shift might be bad news for Taiwan, he warned. US news outlet Politico reported on Friday that Pentagon officials had urged the Department of Defence to prioritise protecting the homeland and western hemisphere, marking a shift in its focus on its adversaries including China... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3324659/why-pentagons-homeward-shift-may-signal-us-power-decline-bad-news-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3324659/why-pentagons-homeward-shift-may-signal-us-power-decline-bad-news-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 07 Sep 2025 11:11:30 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi,Liu Zhen Seong Hyeon Choi,Liu Zhen China’s grand military parade highlighting new space, cyber and information warfare branches underscored the country’s push to weave advanced technologies into its combat strategy, according to analysts. In a show of military strength and modernisation, Wednesday’s parade in Beijing marking the 80th anniversary of Japan’s defeat in World War II unveiled the People’s Liberation Army’s most advanced weaponry and its latest command structure reforms. The spectacle featured formations not just from... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3324524/what-did-chinas-victory-parade-reveal-about-pla-space-cyber-information-war-plans?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3324524/what-did-chinas-victory-parade-reveal-about-pla-space-cyber-information-war-plans?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 06 Sep 2025 22:00:11 +0000