TOPIC

China’s military drills

China’s military drills
Latest news and updates on military drills involving the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), including manoeuvres near Taiwan and joint exercises with other nations.
A single-seat F-16V fighter jet belonging to Hualien Air Force Base in Taiwan crashed off the coast of Hualien this week while conducting a routine night training mission. It has drawn attention to the maintenance and upgrade of the island’s military equipment. Photo: Handout
Taiwan

F-16 fighter crash brings fresh scrutiny to Taiwan’s ageing military equipment

Opposition politicians frame incident as readiness problem created by high operational tempo, ageing airframes and slow equipment delivery.

videocam
17
Taiwan

How PLA could use ‘decapitation’ strike to counter Taiwan’s ‘porcupine’ strategy

videocam
26
UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles)

PLA drills target swarms of suicide drones – Taiwan’s front line of defence

videocam
14
China-Japan relations

‘Real and accelerating’: China-Japan military tensions surge amid missile race

Analysts hold out little hope that security pressures will ease, given US insistence that regional allies boost first island chain defences.

videocam
33
Illustration: Henry Wong
Brics

China to lead joint naval drills with Brics nations in South African waters

It is the first defence cooperation under the Brics framework, with the Russian and Iranian navies reportedly taking part.

videocam
US-China relations

Trump to meet US’ China envoy after call with Japanese PM Takaichi

Trump and Takaichi telephone conversation reaffirms ‘close coordination’ of US-Japan alliance and hopes of a ‘new chapter’ for partnership.

videocam
18
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Taiwan

Did a PLA stealth fighter approach a key Taiwan airbase? New video sparks debate

Footage released during military drill shows a J-20 against a background said to resemble Taiwan’s Pingtung, but some analysts are sceptical.

videocam
10
A J-20 fighter appears in a video released by the People’s Liberation Army on Tuesday, the second day of the “Justice Mission 2025” joint military drill near Taiwan. Photo: PLA Eastern Theatre Command
Taiwan

Just how close did a PLA drone come to the heart of Taipei during drill?

Footage shared by a mainland military social media account shows Taipei 101 but it’s not clear when it was taken.

videocam
59
US-China relations

US urges Beijing to end military pressure against Taiwan

New Year’s Day message from the US State Department follows drill around island that saw over 30 warships deployed, according to Taipei.

videocam
95
China's military weapons

Is China’s truck-mounted catapult system enabling merchant aircraft carriers?

Scalable truck-based launch track pictured on modified cargo ship raises questions about drone war potential.

videocam
5
Three trucks linked to form what appears to be a launch track for large drones have been spotted at a dock in China. Photo: Handout
Taiwan

Was PLA’s Taiwan drill testing ‘inexpensive’ ways to wear down air defences?

The drills were on a larger scale than previous ones and featured the use of rocket systems that could give mainland Chinese forces an edge.

videocam
44
The drill included the use of ground-based rocket launch systems. Photo: Reuters
China-Japan relations

Beijing hits back at ‘extremely hypocritical’ critics of drills around Taiwan

Japan, Australia, Britain and the EU express concern about live-fire and blockade exercises around island.

videocam
100
Taiwan

Editorial | Powerful PLA drill shows US arms sales don’t help Taiwan Strait stability

As the US risks sending the wrong signal to Taiwan, Beijing has responded with an unambiguous warning against the island moving towards independence.

China's military weapons

China’s ‘carrier killer’ hypersonic missile YJ-20 in final testing: video

Chinese military’s recently unveiled longest-range missile appears to be nearing mass production.

82
The Chinese military released footage on Sunday of the YJ-20 hypersonic missile in a test launch from a Type 055 destroyer. Photo: China Military Bugle
Taiwan

Video | PLA conducts second day of drills around Taiwan

Troops simulate attacks on maritime targets and conduct anti-air and anti-submarine operations to the north and south of the island.

fe
02:49
US-China relations

‘No worries’: Trump plays down Beijing’s military drills around Taiwan

Trump dismisses ‘routine’ drills in Taiwan Strait even as US arms sales hit record high and Pentagon repeats 2027 timeline.

videocam
23
US-China relations

China’s PLA simulated battles near Mexico, Cuba and Taiwan, CCTV report shows

Rare insight revealed on state television in footage from a PLA wargaming event in central China where dozens of systems were demonstrated.

videocam
33
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Taiwan

Opinion | Taiwan intervention may just spell the end of the West

Mutual economic destruction or worse for China and the West should be enough to deter everyone from internationalising the Taiwan question.

videocam
22
A member of the People’s Liberation Army scans the sea during military exercises, with Taiwan’s frigate Lan Yang in the distance, on August 5, 2022. Photo: Xinhua via AP
China's military weapons

Why China’s rapid military build-up is ‘hardly the whole story’

The PLA has been moving fast to modernise its arsenal and warfare strategy, but it’s seen as ‘seriously deficient’ in some areas.

46
China's military weapons

Chinese tank, upgraded for high altitudes, could be sent to border with India

The Type 99B has been designed for ‘rapid and sustained combat operations’ in areas like the Himalayas, according to state media.

27
China-Japan relations

Donald Trump left facing ‘dilemma’ as China-Japan spat worsens: analyst

White House navigates backing long-time ally Japan while preserving trade truce with China amid fraying ties between the Asian neighbours.

videocam
45
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi gestures as US President Donald Trump delivers a speech during their visit to the aircraft carrier USS George Washington in Yokosuka, Japan, on October 28. Photo: AP
China-Japan relations

US joins Japan for military exercise amid Takaichi China row

The Japanese and US air forces flew a training mission over the Sea of Japan in wake of complaints from Tokyo about Chinese military activities in the region.

Japanese F-15 fighters and US B-52 bombers over the Sea of Japan. Photo: Defense Ministry of Japan via Reuters
China-Japan relations

China-Russia bomber patrol ‘a serious security’ concern, Japanese minister says

Defence chief Shinjiro Koizumi says the exercise was ‘clearly intended to be a demonstration’ against Japan at a time of heightened tension.

videocam
33
China-Japan relations

China ‘did tell Japan about air drills but not in enough detail to avoid danger’

Both sides have been trading barbs following a stand-off between fighters during Saturday’s training exercise involving the Liaoning carrier.

videocam
60
Air Defence Identification Zone

2 Chinese, 7 Russian jets enter South Korean air defence zone near Japan

Chinese defence ministry cites annual joint strategic patrol with Russia, hours after South Korea says aircraft did not violate airspace.

videocam
25
The South Korean military deployed fighter jets “to prepare for any contingencies”. Photo: Handout
China-New Zealand relations

7 Chinese warships followed our navy vessel in East Asia, New Zealand says

Wellington says ship was to carry out surveillance and deterrence activities to bolster UN Security Council sanctions against North Korea.

videocam
17
The HMNZS Aotearoa, a Polar-class replenishment vessel of the New Zealand Navy, was deployed to the East China and Yellow seas with allies in November. Photo: Handout via Reuters
China-Japan relations

Japan keeps tabs on 4 Chinese navy ships near Okinawa after weekend stand-off

China’s ‘capabilities in long-range, unmanned combat operations mean we can neutralise any threat with precision’, commentator tells CCTV.

videocam
46
Taiwan

PLA holds urban warfare drill as Taipei looks to boost ‘asymmetric capabilities’

State television report showing operation in war-torn city airs soon after Taiwanese leader proposed extra US$40 billion in defence spending.

4
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Help preserve 120 years of quality journalism.
SUPPORT NOW
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement