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China's military weapons

China's military weapons
Latest news, features and opinion on the military in China, including the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), the development of warships, aircraft carriers and fighter jets, spending on the armed forces and reforms and modernisation. US-China and mainland-Taiwan military tensions and the deployment of China’s armed forces overseas are also covered.
Open Questions series

Wu Shicun on why Beijing will not rule out Scarborough Shoal construction

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Illustration: Victor Sanjinez

Zheng Yongnian on what US’ ‘neocolonialism’, Venezuela operation mean for China

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Illustration: Victor Sanjinez

Liu Qian on Chinese innovation, the US rivalry and women holding up half the sky

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Illustration: Victor Sanjinez Garcia

Fuchsia Dunlop tells how she fell for China’s cuisine and names her perfect dish

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

80 years on from WWII, China’s interests lie in peaceful Asia-Pacific: Mitter

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

‘Delusional’: Jeffrey Sachs on why Western hegemony has ended

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Illustration: Henry Wong

Wu Shicun on why Beijing will not rule out Scarborough Shoal construction

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28
Illustration: Victor Sanjinez

Zheng Yongnian on what US’ ‘neocolonialism’, Venezuela operation mean for China

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15
Illustration: Victor Sanjinez

Liu Qian on Chinese innovation, the US rivalry and women holding up half the sky

7
Illustration: Victor Sanjinez Garcia

Fuchsia Dunlop tells how she fell for China’s cuisine and names her perfect dish

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5
Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

80 years on from WWII, China’s interests lie in peaceful Asia-Pacific: Mitter

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18
Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

‘Delusional’: Jeffrey Sachs on why Western hegemony has ended

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93
Illustration: Henry Wong
MORE FROM THIS SERIES
A larger hull would provide the aircraft carrier with more hangar space and room for more aircraft, an analyst says, while nuclear propulsion could also free up space for more aviation fuel or munitions. Photo: AFP
China’s aircraft carriers

China’s next carrier could be its longest – what are Beijing’s plans?

Analysts say the vessel’s hull and potential nuclear propulsion hint that China’s carrier fleet could be used further afield.

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Serbia

Were the Serbian military’s new robot dogs built using Chinese technology?

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United States

How are China’s Type 052D destroyers shifting the balance in the western Pacific?

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Pacific nations

Opinion | Pacific island states are trapped in Cold War 2.0

Geopolitically, it’s like a feudal hierarchy: small island nations as vassals, Australia and New Zealand as local lords and the US as king.

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A family photo during the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Koror, Palau, on September 2. Photo: AAP via Reuters
Mainland China

Could China’s sixth-generation fighter carry a laser to defend against missiles?

Beijing expo display offers strongest public hint yet that China is developing airborne laser systems for advanced fighter aircraft.

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China’s submarines

Could mystery Shanghai vessel be a mothership for China’s underwater drones?

Satellite images show an unusual craft under construction that analysts say may be designed to deploy very large uncrewed submarines.

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Saudi Arabia

Has a Chinese DF missile been used for the first time in the Middle East?

Video of a DF-15A rocket motor in Marib hints at secret arms deliveries as Saudi-Houthi fighting escalates.

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Video on social media shows debris from the booster stage of a short-range ballistic missile with “DF-15A” written on its side. It was discovered in the Raghwan district of Marib governorate. Photo: X.com/OSINTWarfare
China technology

Opinion | China’s J-10CE has foreign buyers, but not yet a market

In service in Pakistan and Uzbekistan and on Bangladesh’s radar, the fighter jet is not yet a threat to Western market dominance.

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ICBMs

For China, H-6N bomber enhances nuclear deterrence and second-strike capability

Country’s nuclear triad complete as airborne leg supplements intercontinental ballistic missiles and submarine-launched ballistic missiles.

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Mainland China

Why PLA’s laser-equipped Type 19 vehicle could matter in a Taiwan conflict

Images appear to show amphibious platform adapted with energy weapon and extra sensors for counter-drone defence.

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A new variant of the PLA’s Type 19 amphibious combat vehicle features a turret-mounted laser weapon and extra sensors. Photo: CCTV
UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles)

Fresh photos offer clearest view yet of China’s ‘WZ-X’ spy drone

Analysts say the stealthy aircraft appears to be designed for reconnaissance deep inside contested airspace.

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New photos of a massive Chinese drone show its serrated trailing edge, a sawtooth-like pattern along the rear of the wing, according to analysts. Photo: X/ RupprechtDeino
India-Pakistan tensions

From Pakistan to Uzbekistan: how China’s J-10CE is widening its overseas reach

Fighter jet is becoming an appealing option for a growing number of foreign operators, potentially providing insight into its performance.

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Science

J-50 design team reveals leapfrog tech for China’s next-gen stealth fighters

The aircraft are expected to have futuristic systems for self-flying and large-scale drone wingman squads.

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Science

US scrambles to match China’s air-breathing hypersonic missile advantage

US defence agency launches next-generation weapons project a year after PLA unveiled pioneering hypersonic missiles in military parade.

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China’s YJ-19 anti-ship missile makes its debut at a military parade in Beijing, China, on September 3, 2025. Photo: Eugene Lee
Taiwan

Beijing boosts Taiwan-facing firepower with brigade-level 155mm howitzers

Upgrade for Eastern Theatre Command’s 71st Group Army streamlines PLA’s firepower across land and sea as US artillery programmes lag.

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The 71st Group Army of the People’s Liberation Army in recent months has been equipped with a batch of PLZ-05 155mm self-propelled howitzers. Photo: CCTV
Drones

Merging air, land and sea swarms – the next frontier in China’s drone technology

CETC says mature formations of similar drones are the foundation for a combat network linking uncrewed assets across domains.

India-Pakistan tensions

Pakistan’s China-made HQ-17AE system to boost drone defence in future India war

Successful integration with other foreign systems by Pakistan would strengthen China’s export case ‘considerably’, analyst notes.

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China-Middle East relations

Chinese PLA aircraft to headline Egypt air show in display of export potential

No official word on which equipment will feature, but event comes just days after the end of a joint drill between the armed forces.

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The Z-20K helicopter is expected to be among the aircraft on display at an air show in Egypt this week. Photo: Handout
China-Africa relations

In Burkina Faso, Sky Dragon 30 missiles point to China’s military export inroads

Chinese weapons are gaining favour as the West African country cuts ties with Western suppliers, analyst says.

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US military

US looks to warship designs from Japan, South Korea and Turkey, reports say

It comes after Trump signed a memorandum calling for foreign shipbuilding capacity and investment as US industry struggles to meet demand.

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China’s air force

Tanker, transporter, controller: China’s Y-20 family expands its Pacific reach

Answer to strategic airlift shortage is becoming a family of support aircraft able to sustain combat missions deep into western Pacific.

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The Y-20 large transport aircraft can carry payload of around 66 tonnes, with an estimated range of about 3,700km at that load, but refuelling stops along the way could extend its reach far beyond its range. Photo: Xinhua
China-Middle East relations

Export potential? Chinese YY-20 refuels Egyptian Rafale in cross-platform drill

PLA tanker aircraft shows versatility in Egypt exercise, highlighting interoperability that could boost global sales prospects.

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A Chinese YY-20 aerial tanker refuels an Egyptian Air Force Rafale fighter during the Eagles of Civilisation 2026 joint air exercise, according to imagery released by the Egyptian military. Photo: Handout
UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles)

How China’s revised defence law could harness AI and drones for war

The first amendment to the law in 16 years is also expected to cover cyberspace, biotechnology and quantum technology, analysts say.

Pakistan

Uzbekistan confirmed as second foreign operator of China’s J-10CE fighter

Uzbekistan’s defence ministry released official footage of the fighters on Sunday, which was also broadcast on state television.

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Drones

China tests GJ-21 stealth drone as Sichuan Type 076 enters final sea trials

Social media clips show naval combat drone over Liaoning province while Beijing’s catapult-equipped drone carrier prepares for deployment.

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China’s stealth attack drone GJ-21 has been spotted carrying out flight tests this month over Huludao in Liaoning province. Photo: Weibo
India

Bangladesh confirms Chinese J-10CE jet deal, citing Rafale shot down by Pakistan

Dhaka’s decision to buy the fighters shows that views on Chinese weapons are shifting and the market is opening, military expert says.

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A J-10CE multi-role combat aircraft is displayed at the Zhuhai International Air Show Centre in Zhuhai, Guangdong province on November 11, 2024. Photo: VCG via Getty Images
Mainland China

Did the Chinese navy fire a radar-absorbing YJ-18A anti-ship missile in sea trial?

Black radar-absorbing finish on upgraded ship-launched weapon would improve penetration and visual camouflage over deep water, say analysts.

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China’s rocket force

China seeks public tips on procurement violations in PLA Rocket Force probe

Authorities asked for clues about problems in PLARF’s purchases spanning all stages of the process and different forms of procurement.

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