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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 J-35 prepares for a catapult launch on the deck of the Fujian, China’s most advanced carrier. Photo: Xinhua
China's military weapons

What China’s carrier recruitment drive says about PLA Navy’s long-term ambitions

Beijing is committed to building a fleet that can operate far from home – even in the face of the growing threat from anti-ship missiles.

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China's military weapons

What does China’s J-16 jet ‘beast mode’ upgrade mean for regional air power?

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China military reform

2 Chinese military naval pilots killed during PLA frontline training exercises

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Taiwan

The radar system that Taiwan says tracked the PLA’s ballistic missile launch

The Pave Paws early-warning unit detected the launch from waters near the mainland’s southern coast, report says.

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Beijing has not confirmed the type of missile used in the test but a senior Taiwanese security official says it was a JL-2. Photo: Kyodo
US-China relations

US says China gave only hours’ warning before Pacific submarine missile launch

Washington says Beijing’s notification of launch fell short of expected standard followed by other established nuclear powers.

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China-Russia relations

China eyes Russian submarine rescue expertise in Yellow Sea naval drills

Joint exercise reveals deepening military cooperation between Beijing and Moscow while sending signal to Washington and its regional allies.

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China's military weapons

What does China’s submarine missile test mean for its nuclear triad expansion?

More than a technical milestone, undersea launch sends strategic signal to the US and Beijing’s neighbours in Asia-Pacific, analysts say.

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A test missile is fired from a Chinese nuclear-powered submarine towards the Pacific Ocean on Monday. Photo: Xinhua
Mainland China

Russian warships dock in Chinese port ahead of Joint Sea exercises

The PLA held a welcome ceremony for the Russian warships, which arrived in the eastern port of Qingdao on Sunday.

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China's military weapons

Could China’s containerised aircraft launcher reshape rules of modern warfare?

Details of a growing family of standard-sized weapon systems appeared on social media, along with video of an EMALS in action.

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Japan

Japan and South Korea scramble fighters after Chinese-Russian bomber patrol

Tokyo says it had tracked two separate flights involving H-6 and Tu-95 bombers, some of which passed over the western Pacific.

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Chinese H-6 bombers formed part of the patrol. Photo: Handout
China's military weapons

PLA’s advanced carrier Fujian transits Taiwan Strait amid military drills

The vessel’s passage comes a day after island starts a five-day exercise to boost its combat readiness.

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A surveillance photo released by the Taiwanese defence ministry shows the Fujian, the People's Liberation Army's newest and most advanced aircraft carrier, as it transits the Taiwan Strait on Tuesday. Photo: Kyodo
China's military weapons

China’s navy has missiles and drones. Why is it bringing back the ‘big guns’?

A new 155mm naval gun is said to be in development and it could provide firepower support for a future attack on Taiwan.

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China's military weapons

China’s futuristic stealth sub to boost ‘hunt-and-kill’ capabilities: experts

Satellite images show the vessel under construction has a ‘finless’ design that could improve its manoeuvrability and speed.

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Liaoning aircraft carrier

Type 054B frigate makes carrier force debut with Liaoning for live-fire drills

No sign of J-35 stealth fighter but the PLA Navy’s newest and most advanced frigate makes its carrier force debut.

A file photo of a fighter jet taking off from China’s Liaoning aircraft carrier in a previous exercise. Photo: Japan Ministry of Defence
China’s navy

Breaking the chain? Why Hainan holds the key to survival for China’s carriers

Sanya naval complex in country’s island province gives warships room to manoeuvre and counter US first island chain, report says.

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The commissioning and flag-presenting ceremony is held for the Fujian, China’s third aircraft carrier, in Sanya on China’s southern Hainan province on November 5, 2025. Photo: Xinhua via AP
Liaoning aircraft carrier

Chinese carrier kicks off drills in western Pacific amid tense Japan ties

The Liaoning carrier group will hold live-fire drills months after stand-off with Japanese fighter jets during a December exercise.

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China's military weapons

Can PLA training catch up with China’s rapid weapon development?

‘No matter how advanced the equipment is, if people cannot effectively operate it, it remains nothing more than cold steel’: PLA Daily.

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China-Japan relations

Are China and Russia flexing their maritime muscle near Japan?

Tokyo’s recent tracking of three PLA Navy warships transiting Tsushima Strait comes amid heightened regional tensions.

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China’s Type 055 guided-missile destroyer, designated “Renhai-class” by Nato, is a cruiser-sized vessel with robust air-defence, anti-submarine and surface-warfare capabilities. Photo: Handout
Diplomacy

Opinion | Without diplomacy, deterrence in Asia is a path to escalation

The danger is that every state insists it is acting defensively while collectively building the habits and infrastructure of confrontation.

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China's military weapons

PLA showcases YJ-20 anti-ship missiles as US-Japan-Philippines test war moves

Video of PLA Navy strike tests emerges as US, allies take part in Balikatan 2026, marking Japan’s first-ever operational role in the drills.

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Liaoning aircraft carrier

China stages navy drill as US and Philippines embark on Balikatan 2026

The Liaoning aircraft carrier appears to be among 14 large naval vessels snapped on manoeuvres in a satellite image circulating online.

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China’s first aircraft carrier went into commission in 2012 and was named “Liaoning” after the northeastern province. Photo: Xinhua via AP
Artificial intelligence

Iran war shows ‘strategic value’ of AI for China’s military, PLA Daily says

Commentary calls it ‘inevitable’ and necessary for PLA to embrace artificial intelligence to gain the advantage in future warfare.

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China’s military mouthpiece said AI-driven warfare was at a “turning point”. Image: Shutterstock
China's military weapons

PLA’s new Type 076 ‘drone carrier’ set for South China Sea training drills

China’s next-level amphibious warship, the Sichuan, in same waters where US, Japan and the Philippines are conducting joint military exercises.

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China's military weapons

How the PLA may use stealth drones in a swarming boat attack from Taiwan

Beijing could send in GJ-21s – which have long endurance and high manoeuvrability – to counter uncrewed combat boats, military magazine says.

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US-China relations

US warns of China’s ‘invasion rehearsals’ as Trump seeks record military budget

Washington puts spotlight on Beijing’s Taiwan, space operations during hearing on US military’s combat readiness for next year.

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US President Donald Trump announces the US Navy’s “Golden Fleet” battleship programme at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, in December 2025. Photo: AFP/Getty Images/TNS
ICBMs

PLA troops facing Taiwan Strait and Japan simulate response to nuclear attack

Eastern Theatre Command, which has several nuclear power plants within its geographic coverage, holds decontamination drill.

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An Eastern Theatre Command exercise has tested responses to a nuclear contamination incident. Photo: CCTV
China's military weapons

PLA upgrades ageing tanks with protection system for potential Taiwan operation

Type 96A main battle tanks from Eastern Theatre Command now have APS to counter drones and anti-tank missiles, according to state media.

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China-Japan relations

New Type 055 destroyers for PLA East China Fleet tested in first live-fire drill

Exercise will ‘rapidly integrate’ the advanced vessels into the joint combat system covering Taiwan and the seas near Japan.

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