The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute also warns that global disarmament efforts saw ‘major setbacks’ last year.

A ‘virtual commander’, which is being kept strictly confined to a laboratory, has been developed for the PLA.

Analysts say PLA is narrowing gap with drones and hypersonic missiles. But can it compete with Washington’s growing Pacific alliances?

This is a four-part series covering China’s military development, from weapons and aircraft to its role in the global supply chain and how it compares with the United States.

‘A new generation of equipment would bring a new generation of combat power,’ PLA Air Force deputy commander says of mystery project.

Witnesses tell US-China Economic and Security Review Commission that many recent reforms prioritised by Beijing can have dual purposes.

The drill to ‘test the effectiveness of various combat methods’ came amid heightened tensions with the Philippines in the disputed waters

But observers warn that the plan signals a change in Washington’s long-standing policy of ambiguity on the Taiwanese issue.

Australians seem perennially conflicted about China. They like the pandas and value pragmatic ties. But the security concerns? Not so much.

Unprecedented ‘real-world’ data from the South China Sea is helping Chinese scientists study how speed affects surface wake.

Defence ministry disputes Netherlands’ account of last week’s ‘unsafe’ incident between PLA aircraft and Dutch frigate.

Police seized equipment used for torture, scamming and outfits emblazoned with ‘PLA’ that officials suspected belonged to Chinese military.

US has plans to deploy thousands of drones if mainland China invades Taiwan, said Samuel Paparo, adding the ‘Hellscape’ strategy is designed to distract China and buy the US time to respond.

Beijing tells Russian state media that Washington should ‘act responsibly’ after official says America may need to think about a bigger arsenal.

The topic was not discussed when the two countries’ defence chiefs met despite increasing concerns about the risk the technology poses.

US Space Force teams detected an object released by the experimental reusable craft on its third mission.

China is likely to see the multi-domain exercise – which will be launched this summer – as ‘destabilising and threatening’, analyst says.

Pilots are being lured with offers of ‘tonnes of money’ and the chance to fly exotic aircraft, a US official says.

Coastal exercises will include manoeuvres at outlying island of Matsu, fisheries agency says.

Footage released by the state broadcaster CCTV appears to show troops stationed on a grounded warship pointing rifles at a Chinese vessel.

Responding to US defence chief’s speech at Shangri-La Dialogue, PLA lieutenant general describes Taiwan Strait situation as ‘grim’ and suggests there will be more drills.

Beijing’s tightened export restrictions on items from bulletproof vests to plane parts is intended to counter growing US tech curbs.

Breakthrough structure developed by Chinese scientists could threaten America’s dominance of engine technology.

Philippine President Marcos Jnr revealed that behind-the-scenes discussions were under way to resolve South China Sea issues ahead of Asia’s top defence forum, held in Singapore.

Dong, the first naval officer to be named defence minister, is expected to meet US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin at this weekend’s regional forum.

Japanese Ministry of Defence says it monitored the WZ-10 UAV flying near Okinawa within air defence zone in the East China Sea, which Tokyo says has been visited by Chinese ships every day this year.

Daniel Duggan was arrested in Australia in October 2022 at the request of the US government, which accuses him of breaking arms control laws, by illegally training Chinese military pilots after he left the military.