https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/rss/324345/feed en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg Albee Zhang Albee Zhang The PLA Navy’s Liaoning aircraft carrier has started its second drill series in the western Pacific this year, with the training likely to coincide with an expanded US-Japan military exercise that could have implications for a Taiwan contingency. The Liaoning carrier group was carrying out the drill in “relevant waters” of the western Pacific Ocean as part of the navy’s annual training plan, China’s defence ministry said on Wednesday. While it did not disclose the exact location of the drill,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3370859/chinas-liaoning-carrier-heads-pacific-us-japan-prepare-missile-drills?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3370859/chinas-liaoning-carrier-heads-pacific-us-japan-prepare-missile-drills?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 14 Oct 2026 09:00:06 +0000 Gabriel Dominguez Gabriel Dominguez China’s next aircraft carrier could be longer than the US Navy’s largest warship, according to new satellite images that offer fresh clues about how far from home Beijing intends to operate its fleet – and the logistics it will need to do so. Captured on September 4, the images show that work has begun on the bulbous bow of the carrier under construction at Dalian Shipyard in northeastern China, defence intelligence company Janes reported last week. Measurements from the stern to the projected... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3368690/chinas-next-carrier-could-be-its-longest-what-are-beijings-plans?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3368690/chinas-next-carrier-could-be-its-longest-what-are-beijings-plans?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Sep 2026 13:00:19 +0000 Gabriel Dominguez Gabriel Dominguez Having marked its 99th anniversary on August 1, the People’s Liberation Army is now just a year away from its centenary goals, with its evolution highlighting the past, present and future of China’s military strategy. In the sixth part of a series, Gabriel Dominguez looks at Beijing’s evolving aircraft carrier doctrine. Debate over China’s aircraft carrier ambitions has long centred on how many carriers it will build, with the Pentagon last year estimating that Beijing planned to expand its... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3363662/beyond-numbers-why-chinas-carrier-force-wont-copy-us-model?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3363662/beyond-numbers-why-chinas-carrier-force-wont-copy-us-model?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 11 Aug 2026 22:00:10 +0000 Gabriel Dominguez Gabriel Dominguez China’s rapidly expanding aircraft carrier fleet may be vulnerable to attack from submarines – an area where its defensive capacity lags behind that of the United States – according to a new report. This gap is drawing increasing attention as Beijing builds more sophisticated carriers and sends them deeper into the western Pacific, where the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN)’s knowledge of the undersea environment continues to lag behind that of the US Navy. A recent report from the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3363536/why-submarine-attacks-may-prove-be-achilles-heel-chinas-new-carrier-fleet?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3363536/why-submarine-attacks-may-prove-be-achilles-heel-chinas-new-carrier-fleet?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 11 Aug 2026 02:00:16 +0000 Gabriel Dominguez,Dannie Peng Gabriel Dominguez,Dannie Peng Japan’s latest defence white paper warns of China’s growing ability to sustain military operations farther into the western Pacific Ocean, while pledging to bolster its own monitoring systems, strike capabilities and ammunition production. Released on Tuesday, the 610-page document cautions that Beijing is strengthening its aircraft carrier force as it steadily improves its capacity to operate in more distant seas and airspace. In Beijing, defence ministry spokesman Chen Xi said the white paper... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3362957/japan-sounds-alarm-over-chinas-expanding-pacific-footprint-vows-defence-boost?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3362957/japan-sounds-alarm-over-chinas-expanding-pacific-footprint-vows-defence-boost?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 04 Aug 2026 12:00:17 +0000 Alcott Wei,Amber Wang Alcott Wei,Amber Wang Zhou Bo is a retired senior colonel in the People’s Liberation Army, a senior fellow at Tsinghua University’s Centre for International Security and Strategy, and the author of the book Should the World Fear China? This interview first appeared in SCMP Plus. For other interviews in the Open Questions series, click here. The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is approaching its 2027 centenary, a major benchmark set by Beijing to achieve military modernisation. What is that goal actually about? China... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3362704/chinas-military-goal-stand-neck-and-neck-us-ex-pla-colonel-zhou-bo?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3362704/chinas-military-goal-stand-neck-and-neck-us-ex-pla-colonel-zhou-bo?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 02 Aug 2026 22:00:11 +0000 Gabriel Dominguez Gabriel Dominguez For decades, the Philippine Sea has been seen as the gateway through which US and allied forces would sail to Taiwan’s defence in a war with the Chinese mainland. But with the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) increasingly pushing into the western Pacific, experts say Beijing would seek to place aircraft carriers in the waters east of Taiwan to complicate any intervention. Rather than a gateway, the Philippine Sea could be a critical battleground. Northeast Asia is home to land-based missile... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3362656/will-philippine-sea-be-main-battlefield-pla-carriers-taiwan-war?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3362656/will-philippine-sea-be-main-battlefield-pla-carriers-taiwan-war?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 02 Aug 2026 06:00:21 +0000 Albee Zhang Albee Zhang Computer-generated footage showing how China’s first Type 076 amphibious assault ship will launch GJ-21 stealth fighter drones has been aired by state media, with a military commentator saying the vessel is in the final stages of commissioning. The 40,000-tonne Sichuan had full deck line markings, meaning it had entered the final testing phase, military expert Wei Dongxu told state broadcaster CCTV. The amphibious assault ship, which has a 250-metre-long (820 feet) and 62-metre-wide flight deck,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3362271/chinas-type-076-amphibious-assault-ship-sichuan-final-tests-drone-catapult?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3362271/chinas-type-076-amphibious-assault-ship-sichuan-final-tests-drone-catapult?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Jul 2026 10:06:11 +0000 Gabriel Dominguez Gabriel Dominguez China appears to be developing one of its largest fast combat-support ships for the future long-range operations of its Type 004 aircraft carrier, which is still under construction. Commercial satellite imagery captured on July 2, provided by Planet Labs and published by defence news outlet TWZ, shows construction progress at the Comec Longxue shipyard near Guangzhou and reveals fresh details of the vessel’s layout. The images offer insight into how Beijing plans to keep future strike groups... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3361225/china-building-bigger-support-ship-its-future-type-004-carrier-battle-group?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3361225/china-building-bigger-support-ship-its-future-type-004-carrier-battle-group?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Jul 2026 13:00:13 +0000 Gabriel Dominguez Gabriel Dominguez China’s aircraft carrier programme is entering a new phase as Beijing broadens its focus to improve the recruitment and training of the crews and pilots needed for operations far from the country’s home waters, according to a new report. The London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies said the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy was making sweeping changes to pilot recruitment and training. Rather than relying mainly on experienced aviators transferring from operational squadrons,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3360371/what-chinas-carrier-recruitment-drive-says-about-pla-navys-long-term-ambitions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3360371/what-chinas-carrier-recruitment-drive-says-about-pla-navys-long-term-ambitions?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 13 Jul 2026 12:00:13 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen China’s Fujian is likely to be the world’s first aircraft carrier equipped with an anti-torpedo torpedo (ATT) system, representing a world-leading hard-kill capability, a Chinese military magazine has claimed. Commissioned in November, the Fujian is the PLA Navy’s third aircraft carrier and its first to be fully designed domestically. One of the warship’s distinguishing features is a six-tube 324mm (12.8-inch) lightweight torpedo launcher in place of the 12-tube depth charge launchers on the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3359331/will-chinas-fujian-be-first-carrier-carry-anti-torpedo-system-beat-western-subs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3359331/will-chinas-fujian-be-first-carrier-carry-anti-torpedo-system-beat-western-subs?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Jul 2026 10:00:11 +0000 Liu Zhen,Amber Wang Liu Zhen,Amber Wang Fresh footage has offered the first look at China’s truck-mounted electromagnetic catapult launching a drone, with its developer unveiling details of this large family of containerised weapon systems. The footage shows three eight-wheeled flat-top trucks driving on to what appears to be an airfield runway. Once aligned and connected via mechanical hinges, they form a continuous platform, along which a fixed-wing propeller drone accelerates and takes off. The Beijing Institute of Technology’s... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3359193/could-chinas-containerised-aircraft-launcher-reshape-rules-modern-warfare?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3359193/could-chinas-containerised-aircraft-launcher-reshape-rules-modern-warfare?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Jul 2026 15:00:06 +0000 Meredith Chen,Amber Wang Meredith Chen,Amber Wang China’s older aircraft carriers can operate more closely with the more advanced Fujian than previously thought, observers said following PLA exercises showing upgraded fighter jets taking off from the older Liaoning carrier. Images taken during a 40-day mission in the South China Sea and Pacific Ocean that ended on June 22 showed multiple J-15T jets taking off from, and landing on, the Liaoning. China operates three aircraft carriers, which use two launch systems. The older Liaoning and Shandong... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3359192/why-it-matters-chinas-advanced-fighters-can-use-all-its-carriers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3359192/why-it-matters-chinas-advanced-fighters-can-use-all-its-carriers?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Jul 2026 11:00:16 +0000 Junjie Wang Junjie Wang – https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/news/china/article/3358472/asia-defence-spending?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/news/china/article/3358472/asia-defence-spending?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Jun 2026 07:54:58 +0000 Albee Zhang Albee Zhang The People’s Liberation Army’s most advanced aircraft carrier, the Fujian Type 003, transited the Taiwan Strait on Tuesday, a day after Taipei launched a combat readiness exercise. Song Zhongping, a military commentator and former PLA instructor, said the Fujian could be heading back to its home port in the southern island province of Hainan for a break before it headed out to the South China Sea for more training. Taiwan’s armed forces closely monitored the vessel throughout its passage using... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3358227/plas-advanced-aircraft-carrier-fujian-transits-taiwan-strait-amid-military-drills?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3358227/plas-advanced-aircraft-carrier-fujian-transits-taiwan-strait-amid-military-drills?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 24 Jun 2026 14:00:06 +0000 Alcott Wei Alcott Wei China’s first aircraft carrier tried new tactics in its latest drill – including working with land-based tanker aircraft and coordinating with an amphibious assault ship – amid a push to strengthen military combat capability. The Liaoning aircraft carrier strike group returned to its home port in Qingdao on Monday after completing more than 40 days of far-sea combat training, according to state broadcaster CCTV. During the extended deployment, the Liaoning conducted combat exercises at multiple... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3358058/what-chinas-aircraft-carrier-liaoning-testing-and-why-does-it-matter?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3358058/what-chinas-aircraft-carrier-liaoning-testing-and-why-does-it-matter?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 23 Jun 2026 12:00:08 +0000 Alcott Wei Alcott Wei China has accused Japanese warplanes and ships of carrying out multiple “provocations” and surveillance operations during a carrier group’s deployment to the western Pacific for live-fire exercises. State broadcaster CCTV released a video on Monday showing at least four “close-range” encounters, and said the Liaoning carrier group had “warned off” the warships and surveillance planes. It included footage of Japanese warships as well as clips of aircraft, at least one of which appeared to have... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3357944/china-says-it-warned-multiple-japanese-provocations-during-aircraft-carrier-drills?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3357944/china-says-it-warned-multiple-japanese-provocations-during-aircraft-carrier-drills?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 22 Jun 2026 13:00:08 +0000 Albee Zhang Albee Zhang Drone swarms and stealth submarines are playing a growing role in modern warfare, yet aircraft carriers remain a symbol of military might. That can be seen in China’s investment in the warships, as well as other countries including France, Turkey, India and Japan. China’s naval fleet has been expanding at a rapid pace, with its fourth aircraft carrier fast taking shape, according to the latest satellite images of the shipyard in Dalian in the country’s northeast, where it is being built. Those... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3355589/why-do-china-and-other-powers-still-want-aircraft-carriers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3355589/why-do-china-and-other-powers-still-want-aircraft-carriers?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 02 Jun 2026 04:00:16 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning and its strike group are holding a live-fire exercise in the Pacific east of the Philippines, following one of its longest deployments in the South China Sea. The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Kuznetsov-class carrier, along with at least four escorts, was spotted on Monday about 880km (547 miles) southwest of Okinotorishima, Japan’s southernmost point, according to a statement from the Japanese defence ministry. On Tuesday, carrier-based fighter aircraft and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3354978/chinas-type-054b-frigate-makes-carrier-force-debut-liaoning-live-fire-drills?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3354978/chinas-type-054b-frigate-makes-carrier-force-debut-liaoning-live-fire-drills?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 27 May 2026 03:57:36 +0000 Amber Wang Amber Wang US deployment of the Typhon missile system to southern Japan could directly threaten China’s coastal cities and block crucial naval routes to the Pacific, a Chinese analyst has warned. The Typhon mid-range missile launcher was expected to be positioned in southwestern Japan next month for joint US-Japan military exercises, Kyodo News reported last week. Fu Qianshao, a Beijing-based military analyst, said the reported deployment site – Kanoya Airbase in Kagoshima prefecture – was alarming because... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3354790/why-us-typhon-deployment-japan-poses-threat-chinese-cities?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3354790/why-us-typhon-deployment-japan-poses-threat-chinese-cities?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 26 May 2026 01:00:10 +0000 Amber Wang Amber Wang The PLA Navy’s aircraft carrier base in Hainan could prove vital to the fleet’s survivability and crucial in countering US containment along the first island chain in wartime, according to a prominent mainland Chinese magazine. Such a posture could also support efforts to impose a maritime blockade around Taiwan in the event of a conflict, Defence Review reported this month. China now operates three aircraft carriers: the Liaoning, the Shandong, and the most advanced, the catapult-equipped... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3354674/breaking-chain-why-hainan-holds-key-survival-chinas-aircraft-carriers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3354674/breaking-chain-why-hainan-holds-key-survival-chinas-aircraft-carriers?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 24 May 2026 14:00:05 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen China appears to be close to launching the world’s largest naval support ship. On Thursday, the China State Shipbuilding Corporation released a picture of one of its shipyards on social media as part of a message marking a new Chinese solar term, which showed a massive hull in a dry dock in the background. The photo prompted speculation among military observers that the hull was an auxiliary ship and triggered a debate about the future logistical capabilities of the People’s Liberation Army... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3354628/china-building-worlds-largest-naval-support-ship?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3354628/china-building-worlds-largest-naval-support-ship?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 23 May 2026 13:00:06 +0000 Albee Zhang,Alcott Wei Albee Zhang,Alcott Wei All three of China’s aircraft carriers could soon be able to operate the country’s J-35 stealth fighter, which Chinese experts say would “significantly” bolster the PLA Navy’s combat abilities. Currently, only China’s most advanced carrier, the Fujian, can host the J-35 as it has an electromagnetic catapult to assist the fifth-generation fighter into the air. The Liaoning and Shandong carriers launch J-15 fighters from an upwardly curved “ski-jump” deck. However, there are signs that the two... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3354563/could-all-chinas-aircraft-carriers-soon-operate-j-35-stealth-fighters?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3354563/could-all-chinas-aircraft-carriers-soon-operate-j-35-stealth-fighters?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 22 May 2026 12:00:11 +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.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/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.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/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 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.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/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.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/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 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen China is working on a powerful 50-megawatt gas turbine to propel its next generation of warships and key facilities, according to state media. The gas turbine – an advanced power generation unit – is being developed by state-owned China State Shipbuilding Corporation, Economic Daily reported on Monday. It is part of a push by Beijing to establish a self-reliant supply chain for sectors it sees as crucial to national security and China’s industrial base. Advanced gas turbine engines are on... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3340552/chinas-next-generation-warships-will-be-propelled-powerful-50mw-gas-turbine?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3340552/chinas-next-generation-warships-will-be-propelled-powerful-50mw-gas-turbine?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 20 Jan 2026 10:00:12 +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.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3338480/us-navy-aircraft-crashes-offer-lessons-pla-carrier-operations-analysts-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/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 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen China has signalled that its YJ-20 hypersonic ship-to-ship missile is ready for mass production with the release of a video showing the advanced weapon being put through its “finalisation test”. The footage of the YJ-20 being fired from the vertical launch system (VLS) of the Type 055 destroyer Wuxi was posted to social media on Sunday by China Military Bugle, the official People’s Liberation Army account. “Missile hit. Target destroyed,” the crew can be heard saying over the radio, though... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3338185/chinas-carrier-killer-hypersonic-anti-ship-missile-yj-20-final-testing-video?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3338185/chinas-carrier-killer-hypersonic-anti-ship-missile-yj-20-final-testing-video?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 30 Dec 2025 14:00:13 +0000 Alcott Wei Alcott Wei Of all the warplanes in China’s rapidly growing air arsenal, it was an older model that sent shock waves across the region earlier this month. A rare stand-off between Chinese and Japanese fighter jets took place near the Miyako Strait northeast of Taiwan. The incident brought the Shenyang J-15 carrier-based fighter jet, which has been in service for more than a decade, back into the spotlight. Japan said J-15 fighter jets, launched from the Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning, twice engaged their... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3337930/closer-look-chinas-flying-shark-j-15-jet-made-waves-near-japan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3337930/closer-look-chinas-flying-shark-j-15-jet-made-waves-near-japan?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 28 Dec 2025 15:00:09 +0000 Laura Zhou Laura Zhou Two of China’s aircraft carriers, including its biggest and best, have docked at the same naval base near the Yellow Sea, raising suggestions that another dual-carrier exercise is on the horizon. Satellite images circulating on Chinese social media this week show the Fujian, which was officially commissioned last month, docked at a naval base in Qingdao in eastern China’s Shandong province. In one of the images purportedly taken on Thursday, the Liaoning, China’s first aircraft carrier, docked... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3337173/chinas-fujian-gearing-dual-aircraft-carrier-exercise?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3337173/chinas-fujian-gearing-dual-aircraft-carrier-exercise?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 20 Dec 2025 13:00:09 +0000 Wenran Jiang Wenran Jiang Historians are likely to point to 2025 as the watershed in China’s 21st century ascent, a year in which the People’s Liberation Army’s power projection matured across all domains, resetting the global balance of power. This seismic shift is underscored by an unmistakable admission: the US has formally acknowledged the limits of its global reach in its new national security strategy and begun a strategic recalibration away from undisputed hegemony. These military and strategic realities are... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/world-opinion/article/3336668/2025-marked-end-pax-americanas-unipolar-moment?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/world-opinion/article/3336668/2025-marked-end-pax-americanas-unipolar-moment?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Dec 2025 21:30:07 +0000 Alcott Wei Alcott Wei The Fujian, mainland China’s newest and most advanced aircraft carrier, has made its first transit of the Taiwan Strait since its commissioning, with Taipei keeping a close eye on its movements. Taiwan’s defence ministry said on Wednesday that while the carrier, Beijing’s third, passed through the waterway, it appeared to be heading back to a Shanghai shipyard for repairs. The ministry also released a surveillance photograph of the Fujian, reportedly captured by F-16 fighter jets, showing no... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3336782/plas-fujian-aircraft-carrier-transits-taiwan-strait-taipei-watches-closely?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3336782/plas-fujian-aircraft-carrier-transits-taiwan-strait-taipei-watches-closely?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 Dec 2025 11:54:08 +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.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/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.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3335566/japan-keeps-tabs-4-chinese-navy-ships-near-okinawa-after-military-stand?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 08 Dec 2025 06:00:00 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen Key scientists behind China’s latest stealth fighter and aircraft carrier have been promoted to one of the country’s top scientific academies in recognition of their contributions to advances in military technology. The honours also highlight the global lead Chinese military technology has taken in a number of areas. Wang Yongqing, the chief designer and expert of the J-35A stealth fighter; Huang Weina, the lead designer of the WS-19 engine for the J-35 series; and Lu Junyong, a key researcher... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3333823/top-honours-engineers-spotlight-chinas-gains-military-technology?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3333823/top-honours-engineers-spotlight-chinas-gains-military-technology?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 23 Nov 2025 06:00:21 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen China’s newest aircraft carrier, the Fujian, has returned to port following a training mission with its strike group, according to a state media report on Tuesday amid rising tensions with Japan. State broadcaster CCTV reported that the mission marked the “first maritime live-force training” for the world’s biggest conventionally powered warship since it was commissioned to the PLA Navy on November 5. The Fujian, China’s first domestically designed carrier and its third overall, has a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3333289/chinas-fujian-aircraft-carrier-completes-first-training-exercise-after-entering-service?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3333289/chinas-fujian-aircraft-carrier-completes-first-training-exercise-after-entering-service?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 18 Nov 2025 12:10:37 +0000 William Zheng William Zheng Chinese aircraft carriers have undergone intensive far-sea training to forge strong combat readiness, carrying out dozens of “train-as-you-fight” drills beyond the island chains and ramping up the frequency of aircraft launches. The revelation was just one detail in a PLA Daily article last week that shed light on the training activities of China’s three aircraft carriers – a subject that the People’s Liberation Army has previously guarded closely. The details come less than two weeks after... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3333118/china-reveals-guarded-carrier-tactics-train-you-fight-drills-beyond-island-chains?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3333118/china-reveals-guarded-carrier-tactics-train-you-fight-drills-beyond-island-chains?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 17 Nov 2025 10:24:44 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang A man from southern China who donated 140 yuan (US$20) as a child to help build an aircraft carrier has seen his dream of the country becoming a stronger nation come true. To top his wish, in November, the China State Shipbuilding Corporation invited him to visit the carrier fleet and gave him a commemorative watch. Chen Yuwen, from Qinzhou city in Guangxi province, developed an early interest in the military, influenced by his father’s background as a soldier. In 1999, at just five years old,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3332485/chinese-man-who-donated-us20-child-aircraft-carrier-project-invited-visit-26-years?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3332485/chinese-man-who-donated-us20-child-aircraft-carrier-project-invited-visit-26-years?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 17 Nov 2025 01:00:11 +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.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/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.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/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 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.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/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.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/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 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen Only a select few People’s Liberation Army officers attended last week’s commissioning of the Fujian, but among them was Rear Admiral Ma Weiming – the man whose technological breakthrough put the aircraft carrier among the most advanced of its kind. Known as the father of the Chinese electromagnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS), Ma also fundamentally altered naval warfare with a string of innovations that has put China “one generation ahead” in several critical areas. There were no initial... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3332503/meet-ma-weiming-chinese-naval-engineering-genius-behind-fujian-aircraft-carrier-catapult?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3332503/meet-ma-weiming-chinese-naval-engineering-genius-behind-fujian-aircraft-carrier-catapult?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 13 Nov 2025 00:00:10 +0000 Phoebe Zhang,Sylvie Zhuang Phoebe Zhang,Sylvie Zhuang China may have started nurturing the technical knowledge needed to operate the electromagnetic launch catapult on its newly commissioned carrier the Fujian at least eight years ago, according to open records that offer a glimpse into the long-term planning involved in military universities. Footage of Wednesday’s commissioning ceremony from state broadcaster CCTV showed President Xi Jinping speaking to a landing signals officer. When he asked her what she studied, she replied “electromagnetic... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3332371/how-were-chinese-navys-talents-trained-fujian-carriers-commissioning?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3332371/how-were-chinese-navys-talents-trained-fujian-carriers-commissioning?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 11 Nov 2025 12:00:16 +0000 Alcott Wei,Sylvie Zhuang,Seong Hyeon Choi Alcott Wei,Sylvie Zhuang,Seong Hyeon Choi Now that the Chinese navy’s most advanced aircraft carrier, the Fujian, has entered service there could be a change in the power balance in the western Pacific, the South China Sea and even the Indian Ocean, according to experts. The Fujian – China’s third aircraft carrier – was commissioned last Wednesday in Sanya, Hainan province, in a grand ceremony overseen by President Xi Jinping, state media reported on Friday. It is the first Chinese warship equipped with an electromagnetic catapult... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3332242/will-chinas-new-aircraft-carrier-tilt-power-balance-western-pacific?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3332242/will-chinas-new-aircraft-carrier-tilt-power-balance-western-pacific?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 10 Nov 2025 14:00:10 +0000 Alcott Wei Alcott Wei China’s third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, is expected to achieve combat readiness sooner than the first two, and the country has the potential to produce more carriers for regular deployment on the high seas, according to state media. The reports also said China had the technology to build nuclear-powered carriers. The Fujian, the nation’s most advanced carrier and the first with electromagnetic catapults, was officially commissioned in Sanya, Hainan province, on Wednesday. It will now focus... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3332111/chinas-fujian-carrier-track-rapid-combat-readiness-will-there-be-more?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3332111/chinas-fujian-carrier-track-rapid-combat-readiness-will-there-be-more?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 09 Nov 2025 12:18:12 +0000 Haining Gao Haining Gao – https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/article/3331912/chinas-third-aircraft-carrier-enters-service?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/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.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/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.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/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 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen China appears to be making progress on its fourth aircraft carrier at a shipyard in the country’s northeast, according to satellite images, another key part of the navy’s modernisation drive. Commercial satellite images posted to Chinese social media show new hull sections at the shipyard in Dalian, Liaoning where the warship – known as the Type 004 – is believed to be being built. The hull sections are visible in the satellite imagery from late September but were not seen in images from... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3328939/images-hull-sections-suggest-progress-chinas-fourth-aircraft-carrier?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3328939/images-hull-sections-suggest-progress-chinas-fourth-aircraft-carrier?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Oct 2025 10:00:19 +0000 Enoch Wong Enoch Wong China’s most advanced aircraft carrier, the Fujian, has been pictured at a naval base on the southern island of Hainan for the first time, suggesting it is a step closer to entering service. Satellite images taken on Wednesday and shared on social media showed the Fujian and the older Shandong carrier berthed side by side at Yulin Naval Base in Sanya. It was the first time the two carriers had been seen together at the same pier. Additional images indicated that four tugboats had escorted the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3327658/chinese-carriers-pictured-side-side-speculation-grows-fujian-set-enter-service?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3327658/chinese-carriers-pictured-side-side-speculation-grows-fujian-set-enter-service?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Oct 2025 12:30:12 +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.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3326424/landmark-launch-chinas-j-35-stealth-jet-fujian-aircraft-carrier?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/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.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3325722/will-fujian-find-its-home-port-south-china-sea?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/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 Amber Wang,Wendy Wu Amber Wang,Wendy Wu China’s third and most advanced aircraft carrier, the Fujian, has passed through the Taiwan Strait to conduct scientific research tests and training exercises in the South China Sea, the PLA Navy said on Friday. “The cross-regional tests and training are a routine mission of the carrier’s construction process and do not target any specific objects,” said navy spokesman Senior Colonel Leng Guowei, according to state news agency Xinhua. Photos and videos posted on social media showed the Fujian... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3325262/pla-aircraft-carrier-fujian-heads-south-china-sea-taiwan-strait?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3325262/pla-aircraft-carrier-fujian-heads-south-china-sea-taiwan-strait?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 12 Sep 2025 00:38:42 +0000